Ancient Civilizations and Intellectual Revolutions

Which ancient Mesoamerican civilization is known for developing the vigesimal (base-20) mathematical system and an advanced calendar system?

• Inka

• Mayan

• Aztec

• Olmec

The Olmecs are often referred to as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica. What evidence supports this title?

• Their writing system was the only one used in the Americas

• Their colossal head sculptures and early urban planning influenced later civilizations

• They conquered all of Central America

• They developed the compass

The Observatory of Chichén Itzá was a key structure for Mayan civilization. What does this reflect about their society?

• They believed the stars were gods that controlled war

• They used astronomy for agricultural and ritual purposes

• They built observatories only for decoration

• They avoided scientific development

Machu Picchu in Peru is a well-preserved symbol of which ancient civilization’s architectural and engineering mastery?

• Aztec

• Olmec

• Inka

• Mayan

While not from Mesoamerica, ziggurats are structures built by early civilizations for religious purposes. Which of the following best compares ziggurats to Mesoamerican pyramids?

• Both were used as royal tombs only

• Ziggurats were temples; Mesoamerican pyramids served both religious and astronomical functions

• Ziggurats were built underground; pyramids were above ground

• Mesoamerican pyramids were floating temples

How did the establishment of Bayt al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) under Caliph al-Ma’mun contribute to the intellectual revolution during the Abbasid Caliphate?

• It became a school for Islamic rituals

• It was a military training ground for Arab warriors

• It preserved, translated, and expanded ancient knowledge in science, medicine, and philosophy

• It served only as a mosque and prayer hall

The Banu Musa brothers were known for writing 'The Book of Ingenious Devices.' What does their work reveal about scientific thinking in the Islamic world during the medieval period?

• They invented the compass

• They created fictional stories about magical items

• They designed mechanical devices and automations based on scientific principles

• They focused only on astrology and religious symbols

Why is Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine) by Ibn Sina considered a revolutionary work in medical history?

• It was the first book to suggest magic as a cure

• It compiled and systematized medical knowledge used in both the Islamic world and Europe for centuries

• It was a short poem on herbs

• It focused solely on anatomy without medical treatment

What does the Muslim scholars’ development of the astrolabe suggest about their priorities during the Abbasid period?

• They were interested only in religious art

• They focused on tools to aid navigation, astronomy, and prayer times

• They developed it to play games

• It was used to make gold from other metals

In the Islamicate scientific tradition, what does the term “Kitab” signify, especially when used in titles like Kitab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala or Kitab al-Manazir?

• Poetic verses only

• A religious decree

• A written scholarly work or scientific treatise

• A magical scroll