Book 1, Chapter 2, Set 3

Question 1

What period of Indus Valley civilization is thought to have contained the its “peak” and between what two times was this period? (page 58)

Answer 1

The “mature Harappan” period from c. 2600 to c. 1900 BCE.

Question 2

What civilization appears to be the first to have developed a precise system of weights and measures?

Answer 2

The Indus Valley civilization.

Question 3

Over what times did the Bronze Age Shang dynasty of China flourish? (page 60)

Answer 3

c. 1600 to c. 1100 BCE.

Question 4

Who was the last Shang ruler dynasty of China and when and why was he overthrown? (page 61)

Answer 4

Di Xin was considered a tyrant and was overthrown in the 11th century BCE.

Question 5

What state overthrew Shang China and when and why?

Answer 5

The state of Zhou overthrew the last Shang ruler, Di Xin, because he was a tyrant in the 11th century BCE.

Question 6

What are the dates of the Egyptian “First Intermediate Period”? (page 64)

Answer 6

c. 2180 to 2040 BCE.

Question 7

What is an “Intermediate” period in ancient Egyptian history? (page 64)

Answer 7

Egyptian history is divided between periods of relative stability and prosperity under strong centralized rule during its “kingdoms” and intervening “intermediate” periods of chaos and instability under divided factions.

Question 8

What two factions in Egypt were the primary powers and rivals during the First Intermediate Period? (page 64)

Answer 8

One faction was an alliance of dynasty of kings based at the city of Herakleopolis in central Egypt, while the other faction was the Theban kings to their south.

Question 9

What event caused the beginning of the Middle Kingdom of Egyptian history? (page 64)

Answer 9

A Theban king by the name of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (c. 2060 to 2010 BCE) defeated the rival dynasty based at Herakleopolis and reunified Upper and Lower Egypt.

Question 10

What are the dates of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom? (page 64)

Answer 10

c. 2040 to 1730 BCE.

Question 11

What were some of the major events of Middle Kingdom Egypt? (page 64)

Answer 11

Thebes became a major royal center, (although the government capital remained at Memphis) the country’s defenses were strengthened, new trade routes sprang up, and Nubia was conquered (Nubia would provide gold, copper, and manpower to Egypt).

Question 12

When was the Second Intermediate Period of Egypt? (page 64)

Answer 12

c. 1730 - 1550 BCE.

Question 13

Who ruled Lower Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period? Who ruled Upper Egypt? (page 64)

Answer 13

Lower Egypt fell under the control of people called the Hyksos who ruled as pharaohs, while Upper Egypt continued to be ruled by Egyptian dynasties.

Question 14

When was Egypt’s New Kingdom and what event caused its beginning? (page 64)

Answer 14

The New Kingdom began when Upper Egyptian rulers based in the city of Thebes expelled the Hyksos who ruled Lower Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. The New Kingdom was from c. 1550 to 1069 BCE.

Question 15

When did Ramses the Second live and who was he? (pages 64 and 66 - 67)

Answer 15

c. 1279 - 1213 BCE. He was the greatest pharaoh of New Kingdom Egypt (c. 1550 - 1069 BCE). In addition to being a great warrior who fought against the Hittites Empire further to the North, he also was a skilled diplomat, strategist, and propagandist. His rule brought stability and prosperity to Egypt. He also supervised the construction of several of the New Kingdom’s greater monuments, including the four massive statues of himself in his new capital at Per-Ramses near modern-day Cairo, temples for himself and his favorite wife, Nefertari, and most notably the Ramesseum, a palace, religious and political center, and a seat of learning.

Question 16

When did Akhenaten live and what is he most famous for in Egyptian history? (page 64)

Answer 16

c. 1352 - 1336 BCE. Originally Amenophis II, he enforced the sole worship of the sun-disk (aten) in Egypt and changed his name to Akenhaten to reflect his religion.

Question 17

Why did the Egyptian New Kingdom collapse? (page 64)

Answer 17

Although the truth remains a mystery, many have speculated that internal rebellions may have arisen or that external threats became impossible to resist.

Question 18

When was the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, what was it, and why did it begin? (page 65)

Answer 18

The Third Intermediate Period (c. 1069 - 664 BCE) was a period of foreign control mixed with Egyptian independence. It followed immediately after the relative stability of New Kingdom Egypt. Native pharaohs in Upper Egypt were conquered by Libyans, while Lower Egypt split into many separate regions.

Question 19

What happened after in Egypt after the Third Intermediate Period? (page 65)

Answer 19

Kushite rulers from Nubia eventually conquered and ruled both Upper and Lower Egypt c. 747 - 716 BCE. After this period, the pharaohs Taharqa and Tantamani (690 - 656 BCE) ruled, but their reigns gave way to nearly a decade of Assyrian occupation. Finally, there was a brief Egyptian renaissance under the Saite Dynasty.

Question 20

What was Caral and by when was it well established? (page 74)

Answer 20

Caral was one of the first Mesoamerican cities. It was located about 125 miles north of modern Lima, Peru, and was well established by c. 2500 BCE. This city also included pyramid structures built around the same time as the building of pyramids in ancient Egypt.

Question 21

Who were the Olmecs and when did they reign? (page 74)

Answer 21

The Olmecs were the first notable civilization of Mesoamerica and were dominant from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE.

Question 22

What was San Lorenzo? (page 74)

Answer 22

San Lorenzo was the first major center for the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica. It was at its height from c. 1200 BCE to 900 BCE, and was probably organized as a chiefdom rather than a city-state.

Question 23

What are some notable examples of Olmec art and architecture? (page 74)

Answer 23

The Olmecs are well known for their gigantic stone heads, their carved jaguar figurines, their huge sculptures of seated people, their altarlike structures, and their depictions of many animals, especially the jaguar.

Question 24

What eventually happened to San Lorenzo to cause its decline? (page 74)

Answer 24

Although the cause is unknown, San Lorenzo fell into decline around 900 BCE. The large damage to monuments in the area suggests that San Lorenzo fell prey to environmental destruction, external invasion, or some uprising.

Question 25

What was La Venta? (page 74)

Answer 25

La Venta was the second of two major cities of Olmec civilization (the first being San Lorenzo). It thrived between c. 900 BCE and 400 BCE. There are many trademark Olmec monuments at La Venta, including massive stone heads, sophisticated relief carvings and carved jaguar figurines, temple-ceremonial complexes, and a giant pyramid. The buildings were precisely aligned, perhaps due to ideas about astronomy.

Question 26

Who were the Chavin? (page 75)

Answer 26

The Chavin were a Peruvian civilization first devloped in the Andes around 1000 BCE. The major central site or capital of Chavin civilization seems to be at Chavin de Huantar, high in the Andes. Chavin art, like Olmec art, often depicts humans with animal features, and the god El Lanzon is depicted as having a catlike head, a human body, and serpentine hair. The Chavin were in decline by 200 BCE.

Question 27

What was Chavin de Huantar and what were some of its significant features? (page 75)

Answer 27

Chavin de Huantar was the major city of the Chavin civilization and probably its birthplace. The settlement could have housed 3000 people, and at its heart was a monumental ceremonial complex decorated with sophisticated relief carving.

Question 28

Who were the Minoans? (page 76)

Answer 28

The Minoan civilization (named after the mythical Greek king Minos of Crete) was the first Bronze Age civilization in Western Europe. It was based on the island of Crete and lasted from c 3000 BCE to c. 1400 BCE, peaking around 1600 BCE.

Question 29

What was Linear A? (page 76)

Answer 29

Linear A was the written language of the Minoans. It has still not been deciphered.

Question 30

What site was most likely the capital of the Minoan civilization? (page 76 - 77)

Answer 30

Knossos.