Chapter 2

Question 1

What are some common characteristics of a civilization?

Answer 1

Food surpluses and higher population densities
Social stratification and systems of taxation
Labor specialization, regular trade, and accumulated learning

Question 2

Which of the following IS NOT a common characteristic of Sumerian City-States?

Answer 2

Sumerians were monotheistic.

Question 3

Which group made up 90% of the population of Sumer?

Answer 3

Farmers

Question 4

What was Cuneiform?

Answer 4

A written script of wedge-shaped marks
One of the earliest, if not the very first, written script in the world
Used to keep written records.

Question 5

The Sumerian system of arithmetic based on what number?

Answer 5

60

Question 6

In Sumerian daily life, who would inherit a larger share of the family property?

Answer 6

Eldest son

Question 7

What poem allows us to explore Sumerian’s values and views of the afterlife?

Answer 7

Epic of Gilgamesh

Question 8

The Akkadian Empire was founded by whom?

Answer 8

Sargon of Akkad

Question 9

The Babylonian Empire was founded by whom?

Answer 9

Hammurabi

Question 10

The Assyrian Empire was founded by whom?

Answer 10

Nebuchadnezzar II

Question 11

What was the first empire in Mesopotamia?

Answer 11

Akkadian Empire

Question 12

Of the 282 laws in Hammurabi’s Code, which principle is particularly influential?

Answer 12

Law of Retaliation

Question 13

How did the Assyrian army get past the defenses of cities?

Answer 13

Siege Warfare

Question 14

Many scholars claim that Nebuchadnezzar II’s great ziggurat, “Temple of the Foundation of
Heaven and Earth,” was the famous ________________.

Answer 14

Tower of Babel

Question 15

Why is Abraham important in Jewish tradition?

Answer 15

He is recognized as the first Jew.
He made a covenant with God, which blessed his descendants.
He taught his followers about the existence of a single, creator God establishing the idea
of monotheism.

Question 16

Which monotheistic religion recognizes Abraham as a significant figure?

Answer 16

Judaism
Christianity
Islam

Question 17

God made a covenant with which Jewish figure that promised to make him the father of
many nations?

Answer 17

Abraham

Question 18

Which Jewish figure had twelve sons who became the ancestors of the Twelve Tribes of
Israel?

Answer 18

Jacob

Question 19

God tasked which Jewish figure with leading His people out of Egypt?

Answer 19

Moses

Question 20

What was the name given to the Jewish flight to freedom out of Egypt?

Answer 20

The Exodus

Question 21

God made the Sinai Covenant with Moses that directed the Israelites to follow what set of
rules?

Answer 21

The Ten Commandments

Question 22

What important elements of the Jewish faith were established by written traditions?

Answer 22

Jewish descent is traced from Hebrew patriarchs.
Israelites believe in one God.
The covenants created a special relationship between God and the “children of Israel”.

Question 23

Which leader of the United Kingdom of Israel established the first Israelite monarchy?

Answer 23

King Saul

Question 24

Which leader of the United Kingdom of Israel is considered Israel’s greatest leader?

Answer 24

King David

Question 25

King David is remembered for what historical traditions?

Answer 25

Defeating Goliath.
Establishing the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel in Jerusalem.
Contributing to the Book of Psalms.

Question 26

What is the name for the ruins of King Solomon’s temple which is now a site of Jewish
prayer and pilgrimage?

Answer 26

Western Wall, or Wailing Wall

Question 27

After Solomon’s death, the United Kingdom of Israel was split into what two pieces?

Answer 27

Israel and Judah

Question 28

What conceptualization of being members of a scattered people who desire to return to their
homeland played an important part in the formation of a Jewish identity?

Answer 28

Diaspora

Question 29

What supported the process of social differentiation in Egypt?

Answer 29

Surpluses of wheat and barley

Question 30

What river became increasingly important to Egypt’s population?

Answer 30

Nile

Question 31

How did early leaders of Egypt cement their roles?

Answer 31

Claiming control over the environment.

Question 32

King Narmer is recognized for what accomplishment?

Answer 32

Unifying Upper and Lower Egypt

Question 33

Ancient Egyptians use all of the following scripts EXCEPT?

Answer 33

Ostraca

Question 34

All of the following are innovations of the ancient Egyptians EXCEPT?

Answer 34

Creating a number system based on the number 60

Question 35

In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the sun god?

Answer 35

Re

Question 36

In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the god of the afterworld and controlled nature’s
cycles?

Answer 36

Osiris

Question 37

In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the god of war and protection?

Answer 37

Horus

Question 38

In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the goddess associated with healing and motherhood?

Answer 38

Isis

Question 39

During which Dynastic Egyptian period did pharaohs use the building of pyramids to
emphasize their relationship to the divine, saw increased trade and remained relatively
peaceful, and did not have a standing army and faced few foreign military threats?

Answer 39

Old Kingdom

Question 40

During which Dynastic Egyptian period did Pharaoh Mentohotep II reunify Egypt, extending
its territory through military expeditions, and had more access to trade goods?

Answer 40

Middle Kingdom

Question 41

During which Dynastic Egyptian period did Ahmose the Liberator defeat the Hyksos,
adopted the Hyksos’ chariot military and metal technologies, maintained a large standing
army, and developed new burial practices?

Answer 41

New Kingdom

Question 42

Which Pharaoh started what is known as the Amarna Period?

Answer 42

Akhenaten

Question 43

What goods did Egyptian pharaohs and elites want from Kerma?

Answer 43

Gold, copper, slaves, ivory, and exotic animals

Question 44

Kush replaced the Egyptian Hieroglyphics with what locally-created script?

Answer 44

Meroitic