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Southwest Asia - Ancient Cultures, Relgions and Empires

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the best title for this map? What does it show us?

a)

The Diaspora

b)

Spreading culture through trade

c)

Conflict over colonies

d)

Conquest of an empire

2.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the spread of Islam during the time of the Arab conquests?

a)

Islam spread only within the lands conquered by Arabs.

b)

Everyone in conquered lands was forced to convert to Islam.

c)

Islam spread inside and outside the Muslim Empire.

d)

Islam spread widely until the death of Muhammad.

3.

What was the apostle Paul's major contribution to Christianity?

a)

As one of the original followers of Jesus, he helped found the Christian church.

b)

As an author of the Gospels, he preserved the life and teachings of Jesus.

c)

As a missionary he started new churches in Arabia and the Byzantine Empire.

d)

As an early convert to Christianity, he helped it spread beyond its Jewish roots.

4.

The Neolithic Revolution was a major turning point in history because humans

a)

Adopted a nomadic lifestyle

b)

Developed a written language

c)

began living in farming communities

d)

developed new methods for making stone tools and weapons.

5.

The image shows a major achievement of the

a)

Akkadians

b)

Sumerians

c)

Persians

d)

Phoenicians

6.

When Sargon, leader of the Akkadians, invaded and conquered Sumer, he created the first known

a)

city-state

b)

empire

c)

colony

d)

civilization

7.

Most Christians believe that (choose the 2 correct answers):

a)

God the father created the universe

b)

Christians cannot be forgiven for their sins

c)

Jesus was God in human form

d)

there are 3 gods to worship

8.

Which event led to the start of the Jewish Diaspora?

a)

The Jews were enslaved in Egypt

b)

The Jews rebelled against the Romans

c)

The Babylonians conquered the Israelites

d)

The Israelites established a kingdom in Canaan

9.

According to the Hebrew Bible, the Jewish belief in Canaan as the Promised Land is based on the

a)

covenant between Abraham and God

b)

escape of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

c)

Ten Commandments

d)

Babylonian captivity

10.

Why did Muhammad move from the city-state of Mecca to the city-state of Medina?

a)

He had already established a Muslim community in Mecca.

b)

He and his followers faced persecution in Mecca.

c)

He did not want to interfere with existing worship at the Kaaba in Mecca.

d)

He was a merchant and wanted to trade with the people of Medina.

11.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.”


This quotation is most likely an excerpt from the

a)

epistles of the Christian Bible

b)

parables of Jesus

c)

Gospels

d)

Hebrew Bible

12.

This dynasty expanded the Arab Muslim empire to its greatest extent.

a)

Abbasid

b)

Safavid

c)

Umayyad

13.

Which empire conquered most of Southwest Asia and Egypt before it was conquered by Alexander the Great?

a)

Akkadian

b)

Persian

c)

Babylonian

d)

Assyrian

14.

Read the quote about the life of Muhammad.


“[Muhammad] called Ayesha to him, and said, ‘Where is that gold which I gave [you] to keep?’ . . . [S]he placed it in his hand, and counted six dinars. He directed that it should be divided among certain indigent [needy] families; and then . . . he said, ‘Now I am at peace. Verily [truly] it would not have become me to meet my Lord, and this gold in my possession.’”


Which Pillar of Islam is this quote about?

a)

daily prayer

b)

fast during Ramadan

c)

giving charity

d)

the hajj

15.

The main purpose of the Crusades was to

a)

drive Muslims out of Spain

b)

conquer the Byzantine Empire

c)

free Jerusalem from Muslim control

d)

overthrow the Ubayyad Dynasty

16.

Based on the map, how did the geographical location of the Ottoman Empire help it to expand?

a)

It was separated from Europe by the Black Sea.

b)

It controlled the water route across the Mediterranean Sea.

c)

Its location protected from invaders from Southwest Asia

d)

It was located at a meeting point between Asia and Europe.

17.

Name one example of a code of laws that originated in Southwest Asia.

a)

Hammurabi's Code

b)

Geisler's Code

c)

Sumerian Code

d)

Xerxes Code

18.

The main similarity among the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam is:

a)

they are all religions

b)

they all worship Jesus

c)

they are all monotheistic

d)

they all worship 3 gods

19.

What features of Mesopotamia's geography made it good for agriculture and led to the development of an ancient civilization there? Check ALL that apply.

a)

tropical rain forest

b)

Two big rivers flooded, making the land good for farming

c)

Sunny, mild climate

d)

Plants and animals that could be domesticated

20.

When Muhammed died, his followers disagreed on what issue?

a)

Who could follow the man believed to be the messenger of God

b)

Who loved Muhammed the most

c)

Who could speak Arabic

d)

How to expand the empire

21.

What two major groups formed as a result of the disagreement about who would succeed Muhammed after he died?

a)

Shia

b)

Persians

c)

Sunni

d)

Akkadians

22.

How and why did Christianity spread so far even though Judaism had been around for thousands of years already? Check ALL that apply.

a)

Roman roads

b)

Hebrew language they spoke

c)

The popularity of the Greek language that had developed

d)

The work of the Apostles, especially Peter and Paul