Textbook: Chapter 3, 6 Flashcards
What role did river valleys and floodplain ecosystems play during the Holocene transition in the development of agriculture?
River valleys provided nutrient-rich soils, fish, and waterfowl, supporting hunter-gatherers and later attracting Neolithic farmers due to the annually replenished soils from seasonal flooding.
The invention of agriculture is considered complex because:
A) It emerged in one region and quickly
spread worldwide
B) Cultivation sometimes preceded the formation of integrated social and economic settlements
C) It was initially based solely on animal domestication
D) It relied only on trade for food resources
B
Why did early farmers prioritize food storage and seed security, and how did early Holocene climate variability influence agriculture?
Early farmers prioritized storing food and securing seeds to survive unpredictable climate conditions. The variable climate of the early Holocene likely created conditions that favored the cultivation of wild precursors to domesticated wheat and barley in the first agricultural centers.
What role did the Loess Plateau play in the development of early agriculture in northern China?
The highly erodible Loess Plateau supported dense stands of foxtail millet, which contributed sediment to the Yellow River floodplain, allowing wild millet to grow abundantly in the area.
Early Holocene temperatures in China were warmer than today, which likely contributed to the presence of:
A) Corn and wheat
B) Potatoes and yams
C) Maize and barley
D) Wild rice and millet
D
What crops were cultivated by late Neolithic farmers in northern China around 7,000 BP?
Northern Chinese farmers grew crops like paddy rice, hemp, soybeans, Chinese cabbage, and leaf mustard, with millet as the dominant crop.
Archaeologists uncovered evidence of large-scale millet storage at a Cishan culture site in northern China. How much fresh millet did the excavated pits potentially hold?
A) 10,000 lb (4,500 kg)
B) 50,000 lb (22,700 kg)
C) 110,000 lb (50,000 kg)
D) 220,000 lb (100,000 kg)
D
Why did farmers in northern China prioritize storing crops, and how did this differ from farming practices in southern China?
Northern Chinese farmers needed to store crops for the harsh winter months, while in southern China, the mild climate and abundant resources meant there was no immediate need to domesticate plants.
hy did agricultural activity develop later in southern China compared to northern China?
A) Southern China lacked fertile soil
B) There was no winter season or demographic pressure in the south
C) Southern China’s environment did not support any crops
D) Southern China prioritized livestock over crop cultivation
B
Which of the following crops were domesticated by early farmers in sub-Saharan Africa?
A) Sorghum, millet, African rice, teff, and yams
B) Wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, and cassava
C) Maize, tomatoes, soybeans, lentils, and carrots
D) Oats, rye, grapes, apples, and bananas
A
