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Introduction to Ancient Civilizations

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Ancient civilizations occurred ...

a)

a few years ago

b)

hundreds of years ago

c)

thousands of years ago

d)

in the future

2.

Which abbreviation represents the time period we are living in now?

a)

A.D.

b)

B.C.

3.

Which initials would you use to describe the time period of many ancient civilizations?

a)

B.C.E

b)

C.E.

4.

What allowed people to settle in one place and develop civilizations with cities?

a)

learning to read and write

b)

farming which created a surplus of food

c)

wealthy rulers who shared their food and riches

d)

the invention of money

5.

What did people do for food BEFORE ancient civilizations were developed?

a)

farmed

b)

hunted & gathered

c)

nothing

d)

merchants

6.

What does "surplus" mean?

a)

having extra of something

b)

not having enough of something

c)

serving food to others

d)

adding more food to a common storage area

7.

What were 3 main reasons that civilizations were established near water sources? Pick 3!

a)

water for crops & catching fish

b)

transportation & trade

c)

building homes & temples

d)

drinking & bathing

e)

religion

8.

Irrigation systems are used in both ancient and modern times. What are irrigation systems used for?

a)

to honor God/the gods

b)

to water crops

c)

for merchants to trade with

d)

to punish those who broke the law

9.

Who made the laws in ancient societies?

a)

merchants & craftspeople

b)

rulers & priests

c)

farmers

d)

hunters & gatherers

10.

Which of the following is a job that someone in the top social class would have?

a)

priest

b)

slave

c)

farmer

d)

craftsperson

11.

In the past, how did communities most often get slaves?

a)

They were stolen from neighboring communities.

b)

They were bought and sold at a local market.

c)

Slavery did not exist in ancient times.

d)

They were captured in battle.

12.

Culture can be found in both ancient and modern times. Which of the following is NOT a part of culture?

a)

art & music

b)

architecture

c)

entertainment

d)

farming & jobs

13.

What does "polytheism" mean?

a)

the belief in one God

b)

the belief in no gods

c)

the belief in one god and one goddess

d)

the belief in many gods

14.

Which 3 of the following do ALL ancient civilizations have in common? Pick 3!

a)

specialization of labor/jobs

b)

located in the desert

c)

system of government

d)

polytheistic religion

e)

everyone could read and write

15.

Which ancient civilization includes the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers?

a)

Greece

b)

China

c)

Aztecs

d)

Mesopotamia

16.

Which ancient civilization is found in Mexico?

a)

Egypt

b)

Aztecs

c)

China

d)

Rome

17.

What was the earliest written set of laws?

a)

Ten Commandments

b)

Constitution

c)

Hammurabi's Code

d)

the Golden Rule

18.

The Babylonian empire had ________________ even though Hammurabi's laws seem very strict to us today.

a)

poverty & sadness

b)

highs and lows

c)

peace & prosperity

d)

only farmers

19.

What is a way that ancient civilizations are different from most communities today?

a)

There was no technology back then.

b)

Most ancient civilizations believed in polytheism, or many gods.

c)

No one could read or write in ancient times.

d)

Art, music, and math were not developed yet.

20.

What is a way that ancient civilizations are similar to our communities today?

a)

Both do not use slaves.

b)

Both are able to meet the needs of everyone.

c)

Both have an organized system of government, jobs, and meeting basic needs.

d)

Both make education possible for all citizens.

21.

What is the opposite of ancient?

a)

old

b)

modern

c)

past

d)

tall