Question 1

What is the name of the first Chinese state that developed in the wheat-producing regions of the north?

Accepted Answer

The first Chinese state that developed in the wheat-producing regions of the north was the Shang dynasty, which existed from 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE.

Question 2

Which of the following attributes distinguishes states from chiefdoms?

Accepted Answer

Sharp class distinctions are a key feature that distinguishes states from chiefdoms. In states, there is a clear and formalized social stratification, with a significant gap between the ruling elite and the common populace, which is less pronounced in chiefdoms.

Question 3

Pseudoscientists often underestimate the capacity for human inventiveness in the ancient peoples they write about, assuming that creating major features were beyond their capabilities.

Accepted Answer

Pseudoscientists often have a biased and limited perspective on the abilities and achievements of ancient peoples, and disregard their ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Question 4

States are complex systems of sociopolitical organization that aim to control and administer everything from conflict resolution to population movements, with the overall aim of achieving egalitarianism among their members.

Accepted Answer

States are indeed complex systems of sociopolitical organization that aim to control and administer various aspects of society, such as conflict resolution and population movements. However, their overall aim is not necessarily to achieve egalitarianism among their members, but rather to maintain order, provide services, and ensure the functioning of the society according to the state's principles, which may or may not include egalitarianism.

Question 5

Evidence for the co-occurrence of Monte Albán's conquest strategy with the emerging Zapotec state offers strong support for the

Accepted Answer

The expansionist model of primary state formation argues that states form when chiefdoms expand their territory through conquest. The evidence for the co-occurrence of Monte Albán's conquest strategy with the emerging Zapotec state offers strong support for this model.

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the Olmec is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

The Olmec were not an empire, but rather a culture or civilization that existed in the pre-classic period in Mesoamerica. They were influential on later Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Maya and Aztecs, but they were not an empire.

Question 7

What is the name of the first state in Pakistan and western India?

Accepted Answer

The Indus Valley Civilization was the first state in present-day Pakistan and western India, dating back to approximately 2500 BCE.

Question 8

All of the following archaeological evidence points to Monte Albán's increasing role at the center of state formation and expansion EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Evidence of peaceful trade with San Martín Tilcajete would not necessarily indicate Monte Albán's increasing role at the center of state formation and expansion. Instead, it could suggest a continuation of pre-existing economic interactions rather than a shift towards centralized control and expansion.

Question 9

What prestige item was crafted by inhabitants of the Valley of Oaxaca and traded with other Mesoamerican chiefdoms?

Accepted Answer

Mirrors were a prestige item crafted by inhabitants of the Valley of Oaxaca and traded with other Mesoamerican chiefdoms. These mirrors were made from iron pyrite, a mineral that naturally forms perfect reflective surfaces. They were highly prized and used for divination and religious rituals.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Teotihuacán state?

Accepted Answer

While Teotihuacán had a highly developed civilization with advanced architecture, city planning, and a large population, there is no evidence of a mature, syllabic writing system. The language used by the Teotihuacán people is still largely unknown and untranslated.

Question 11

Archaeologists previously believed that the supremacy of any one chiefdom spurred the period of rapid social change in Mexico between 3200 and 3000 B.P. However, they now believe that the cause of this rapid change was

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that the rapid social change in Mexico between 3200 and 3000 B.P. was driven by the intensity of competitive interaction between chiefdoms, rather than the supremacy of any one chiefdom. This included competition for resources, prestige, and influence, which led to the development of new technologies, social structures, and political systems.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the first Chinese state?

Accepted Answer

The first Chinese state, known around the Shang dynasty, was characterized by bronze metallurgy, human sacrifice, wealthy royal tombs, and social stratification. However, it was not dominated by a subsistence economy based on rice; millet was the primary crop in the Yellow River valley where Chinese civilization first developed. Rice became more prominent in later periods, especially with the expansion into the Yangtze River valley.

Question 13

The term ________ was used by V. Gordon Childe (1950) to describe the major transformation of human life and social institutions, including food production and state formation, that occurred during prehistory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The term ________ was used by V....

Question 14

States mark their environments by building long-lasting monumental architecture. Which of the following monuments is NOT one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

Accepted Answer

The Serpent Mound of Ohio is not one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Seven Wonders are the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

Question 15

Which of the following kinds of evidence for warfare have NOT been found by archaeologists while investigating the Maya collapse?

Accepted Answer

Terra-cotta soldiers are associated with ancient China, not the Maya civilization. The other choices have been found by archaeologists investigating the Maya collapse.

Question 16

Early states had productive farming economies.

Accepted Answer

Early states, such as those in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, had productive farming economies that supported large populations and allowed for the development of complex societies.

Question 17

What kind of society were the Olmec?

Accepted Answer

The Olmec society was a type of chiefdom. This means they had a hierarchical system with a leader (or chief) who held a position of power and authority over the rest of the society. However, they did not have a centralized state or empire, and their society was not organized into tribes or bands.

Question 18

Which of the following events played an important role in the abandonment of the fields in Mesopotamia?

Accepted Answer

The destruction of the fields by mineral salts, known as salinization, is a common problem in Mesopotamia due to the irrigation practices that cause salt buildup in the soil. This leads to decreased fertility and eventually the abandonment of the fields.

Question 19

Like Mesopotamia and China, many early civilizations came to rely on metallurgy. Aside from metallurgy, a peculiar skill that set the early civilizations of Peru's Andes apart was

Accepted Answer

The skill of using natural fibers to create an astonishing system of suspension bridges across deep mountain gorges set the early civilizations of Peru's Andes apart. This engineering feat allowed for easier and safer transportation across difficult terrain, and it demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the properties of plant fibers.

Question 20

Early states lacked social classes.

Accepted Answer

Early states did have social classes, although the specific structure of those classes varied depending on the society. For example, ancient Egyptian society had a clear hierarchy with pharaohs and nobles at the top, followed by artisans and farmers, and then slaves at the bottom. Similarly, ancient Mesopotamian society had a class structure with priests and nobles at the top, followed by free citizens, and then slaves.

Quiz 12: The First Cities and States