Chapter 2 Flashcards
What are some common characteristics of a civilization?
Food surpluses and higher population densities
Social stratification and systems of taxation
Labor specialization, regular trade, and accumulated learning
Which of the following IS NOT a common characteristic of Sumerian City-States?
Sumerians were monotheistic.
Which group made up 90% of the population of Sumer?
Farmers
What was Cuneiform?
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.
The Sumerian system of arithmetic based on what number?
60
In Sumerian daily life, who would inherit a larger share of the family property?
Eldest son
What poem allows us to explore Sumerian’s values and views of the afterlife?
Epic of Gilgamesh
The Akkadian Empire was founded by whom?
Sargon of Akkad
The Babylonian Empire was founded by whom?
Hammurabi
The Assyrian Empire was founded by whom?
Nebuchadnezzar II
What was the first empire in Mesopotamia?
Akkadian Empire
Of the 282 laws in Hammurabi’s Code, which principle is particularly influential?
Law of Retaliation
How did the Assyrian army get past the defenses of cities?
Siege Warfare
Many scholars claim that Nebuchadnezzar II’s great ziggurat, “Temple of the Foundation of
Heaven and Earth,” was the famous ________________.
Tower of Babel
Why is Abraham important in Jewish tradition?
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.
Which monotheistic religion recognizes Abraham as a significant figure?
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
God made a covenant with which Jewish figure that promised to make him the father of
many nations?
Abraham
Which Jewish figure had twelve sons who became the ancestors of the Twelve Tribes of
Israel?
Jacob
God tasked which Jewish figure with leading His people out of Egypt?
Moses
What was the name given to the Jewish flight to freedom out of Egypt?
The Exodus
God made the Sinai Covenant with Moses that directed the Israelites to follow what set of
rules?
The Ten Commandments
What important elements of the Jewish faith were established by written traditions?
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”.
Which leader of the United Kingdom of Israel established the first Israelite monarchy?
King Saul
Which leader of the United Kingdom of Israel is considered Israel’s greatest leader?
King David
King David is remembered for what historical traditions?
Defeating Goliath.
Establishing the capital of the United Kingdom of Israel in Jerusalem.
Contributing to the Book of Psalms.
What is the name for the ruins of King Solomon’s temple which is now a site of Jewish
prayer and pilgrimage?
Western Wall, or Wailing Wall
After Solomon’s death, the United Kingdom of Israel was split into what two pieces?
Israel and Judah
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?
Diaspora
What supported the process of social differentiation in Egypt?
Surpluses of wheat and barley
What river became increasingly important to Egypt’s population?
Nile
How did early leaders of Egypt cement their roles?
Claiming control over the environment.
King Narmer is recognized for what accomplishment?
Unifying Upper and Lower Egypt
Ancient Egyptians use all of the following scripts EXCEPT?
Ostraca
All of the following are innovations of the ancient Egyptians EXCEPT?
Creating a number system based on the number 60
In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the sun god?
Re
In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the god of the afterworld and controlled nature’s
cycles?
Osiris
In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the god of war and protection?
Horus
In Egyptian religious beliefs, who was the goddess associated with healing and motherhood?
Isis
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?
Old Kingdom
During which Dynastic Egyptian period did Pharaoh Mentohotep II reunify Egypt, extending
its territory through military expeditions, and had more access to trade goods?
Middle Kingdom
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?
New Kingdom
Which Pharaoh started what is known as the Amarna Period?
Akhenaten
What goods did Egyptian pharaohs and elites want from Kerma?
Gold, copper, slaves, ivory, and exotic animals
Kush replaced the Egyptian Hieroglyphics with what locally-created script?
Meroitic
