Q&A Hero

Q: Upper Egypt refers to the northern part of the Egyptian Nile Valley.

Q: Little is known about the Maya who inhabited the northern lowlands of the Yucatn Peninsula during the Early Classic because: A. there are very few archaeological sites that date back to this period B. research has not been conducted in this region C. climate conditions are not conducive to preservation D. few Maya texts were produced in the region

Q: Although warfare in between Mesopotamian city-states was common, the level of violence was limited.

Q: Naturalistic murals depicting everyday life among the Maya have been recovered at: A. Calakmul B. Tikal C. Palenque D. Bonampak

Q: The growth of Mesopotamian cities was based on the production of agricultural surplus.

Q: Most Paleolithic and Neolithic sites in southern Mesopotamia are accessible to archaeologists because they are not deeply buried.

Q: The largest Classic Maya center was: A. Palenque B. Tikal C. Copn D. Calakmul

Q: In southern Mesopotamia, crops can be grown only with irrigation.

Q: Palenque's Early Classic king list: A. begins with the same dynastic founder as Tikal B. includes Lady Yohl Ik"nal, a female ruler C. is composed of a few rulers who reigned for a long time D. is made up of several individuals, all of whom came from Teotihuacan

Q: Mesopotamia was bounded by the Nile and the Euphrates Rivers.

Q: Two major Classic Maya sites located along the Usumacinta River are: A. Yaxchiln and Copn B. Palenque and Yaxchiln C. Copn and Palenque D. Cern and Copn

Q: The Epic of Gilgamesh recounts the exploits of the king of Uruk.

Q: The great Tikal earthwork: A. completely surrounds the site B. forms a protective enclosure containing the whole of Tikal's settlement C. is over 100 miles long D. may have had several functions

Q: Minoan naval forces may have been destroyed by __________. a. a tsunami b. the Mycenaeans c. disease d. pirates

Q: The great Tikal earthwork was most likely built during: A. the 5th century ad B. the 6th century ad C. the 7th century ad D. the 8th century ad

Q: Which of these towns may have been destroyed by a volcanic eruption? a. Santorini b. Knossos c. Akritiri d. Venice

Q: During the Early Classic, the great city of Teotihuacan: A. interfered in the politics of the Maya Lowlands B. wiped out all Maya centers and established its own rulers C. was defeated by Maya armies D. took over the entire Maya lowlands and forged an empire

Q: The title of the rule in Linear B tablets is the __________. a. wanax b. thorax c. lorax d. borax

Q: By the end of the Early Classic, the two most powerful Maya centers were: A. Calakmul and Copn B. Palenque and Tikal C. Copn and Palenque D. Tikal and Calakmul

Q: The royal tomb of Tikal's first ruler, complete with grand offerings and human sacrifices, was uncovered at the nearby small site of: A. El Zotz B. Dos Pilas C. Aguateca D. Calakmul

Q: The concept of heterarchy is based on __________. a. the relation of unranked elements b. space inter-syntax c. oracle bone writing d. standardized bricks and rations

Q: "Entering the road" is a Maya metaphor for: A. construction B. travel C. merchant trading D. death

Q: Where did the Minoans live? a. Crete b. Thera c. Peloponnese d. Troy

Q: In ad 329 Tikal's ruler "Curl Snout" began a new dynasty, claiming power from: A. the Olmecs B. Teotihuacan C. Monte Albn D. Palenque

Q: In the Ethiopian highlands, an impressive kingdom developed around what city? a. Timbuktu b. Nubia c. Amarna d. Axum

Q: During the Classic period, succession in the Maya dynasty: A. passed from parent to oldest child, regardless of gender B. was patrilineal, often passing from father to son C. was entirely male-dominated; female rulers were non-existent D. was patrilineal in the southern lowlands and matrilineal in the northern lowlands

Q: Excavations at __________ in Mali show that urban centers predate external contact in West Africa. a. Axum b. Timbuktu c. Songhay d. Jenne-Jeno

Q: The Maya writing of the Classic period: A. is a great source of Maya history, detailing events at dozens of sites B. provides a complete picture of ruling dynasties throughout the lowlands C. does not reveal anything about the ancient Maya D. records only a fraction of Maya history

Q: The first true pyramid, known as the Red Pyramid, was built by King __________ of the fourth dynasty. a. Cheops b. Akhenaten c. Snefru d. Djoser

Q: The Tomb of Ty at Saqqara shows the integral role that __________ played in managing the economy of the Old Kingdom. a. farmers b. priests c. bureaucrats d. scribes

Q: The Yucatn Peninsula: A. has a low annual rainfall that is below 500 mm per year B. exhibits variability in rainfall and vegetation C. is completely covered by tropical rainforest D. was unable to sustain agriculture during Classic Maya times

Q: Rainfall in the Yucatn Peninsula varies from _____ in the northwest corner to _____ in the southern lowlands. A. 500 mm / 4 mm B. 400 mm / 5,000 mm C. 4,000 mm / 500 mm D. 500 mm / 4,000 mm

Q: Egyptian kingly power was tied to the concept of __________, which combines the virtues of balance and justice. a. karma b. Saqqara c. ma"at d. destiny

Q: Maya kings, as powerful intermediaries with supernatural forces, evolved from a long tradition of: A. farmers B. craftspeople C. shamans D. spirits

Q: The first capital of a unified Egypt was in this Upper Egyptian city. a. Cairo b. Giza c. Hierakonpolis d. Memphis

Q: A cenote is: A. a natural sinkhole that typically fills up with water B. a human alter ego in the form of an animal C. a white road D. a pit dug into the bedrock for water storage

Q: The earliest evidence for the unification of Egypt under a single ruler is a slab of carved slate known as the __________. a. Abydos Slab b. Narmer Palette c. Saqqara Tablet d. Scorpion Chronicle

Q: When a person draws blood from his or her own body it is called: A. automated sacrifice B. autosacrifice C. a sacrificial rite D. automaton

Q: Why did the Nile farmers not have the salination problems that plagued Mesopotamian farmers? a. The Aswan dam made irrigation unnecessary. b. They used fertilizers rich in potassium salts. c. There is no salt in the Egyptian soil. d. The annual flooding of the Nile replenished the soil.

Q: Where is the Nile Delta found? a. Lower Egypt b. Upper Egypt c. the Fayum Depression d. Nubia

Q: During the Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia the __________ recorded transactions involving the exchange of land for goods. a. hieroglyphic stones b. kuduru texts c. cylinder seals d. Habuba scrolls

Q: The dates of the Maya Early Classic Period are: A. ad 250"600 B. ad 1"750 C. ad 300"900 D. ad 600"900

Q: What is the oldest known city in the world? a. Hamourkar b. Habuba Kebira c. Uruk d. Ur

Q: MATCHING 2 1) Xalla 2) Tlajinga 33 3) Zacuala compound 4) Street of the Dead complex 5) La Ventilla compound A. Residence of Teotihuacan's third tradition of rulers B. Finely built Teotihuacan apartment compound with murals C. Palace of the early rulers at Teotihuacan D. Apartment compound of potters at Teotihuacan E. Compound where Teotihuacan glyphs were painted in the plaza

Q: The first cities in Mesopotamia developed during the __________ period. a. Chalcolithi b. Uruk c. Neolithic d. Ubaid

Q: MATCHING 1 1) Ching 2) Coastal Chiapas 3) Matacapan 4) Kaminaljuy 5) Tikal A. Teotihuacan's supplier of cacao and jaguar pelts B. Teotihuacan's source of limestone C. Maya site where Teotihuacan interfered with politics D. Gulf Coast center controlled by Teotihuacan E. Center in the Guatemala highlands that was controlled by Teotihuacan

Q: Most of the early cities in Mesopotamia were either within or on the edge of __________. a. rolling upland b. extensive marshlands c. desert wasteland d. grassy savannah

Q: The drinking of alcoholic beverages: A. was not permitted by ancient Mesoamerican societies B. cannot be accurately detected in the archaeological record because it leaves no trace C. is evidenced by drinking cups found at Teotihuacan and Cholula D. did not occur until the Late Classic, once manufacturing techniques had been refined

Q: Cholula's relationship with Teotihuacan: A. was one of dominance (Teotihuacan controlled Cholula throughout the Early Classic) B. was probably one of interaction, but not dominance C. is not evident at either site D. has as yet gone undetected by archaeologists

Q: Mesopotamia is found between the Tigris and Euphrates, centered in what modern country? a. Iran b. Iraq c. Syria d. Turkey

Q: During the Early Classic, the regions of Puebla and Tlaxcala were dominated by: A. Teotihuacan B. Cholula C. Monte Albn D. the Mixteca Alta

Q: This epic tale, set in the Uruk period, is known from cuneiform tablets recovered from Mesopotamia. a. the Bible b. Gilgamesh c. the Odyssey d. the Iliad

Q: Evidence for ancestor worship at Monte Albn: A. is found in the style of palace architecture B. suggests that it was customary among commoners, but not among the elite C. is found in temples but not residences D. is absent, even though this practice was common in other Mesoamerican cultures

Q: How does the trade in antiquities affect archaeology?

Q: The stelae incorporated into Monte Albn's South Platform indicate that: A. the architects were experimenting with different construction techniques, placing the stelae backwards for structural support B. royal ancestors were buried here, and are represented on the stelae C. Zapotec and Teotihuacan writing is identical D. dignitaries from Teotihuacan are highly likely to have visited Monte Albn

Q: During Monte Albn's apogee, the overall population in the valley soared to: A. 10,000 B. 50,000 C. 75,000 D. 100,000

Q: Evidence that other Mesoamerican civilizations were in contact with Mixteca Alta populations during the Early Classic is: A. not found at any highland site B. present in talud-tablero architecture C. found at Monte Negro, which was conquered by Teotihuacan D. reflected in pottery styles

Q: What were the functions of the stone enclosures at Great Zimbabwe?

Q: How has the archaeological interpretation of Great Zimbabwe changed over time?

Q: During the Early Classic, it was likely that eastern Morelos was Teotihuacan's source of: A. cotton B. polished stone figures C. turquoise D. obsidian

Q: The Mezcala-style figures found throughout Mesoamerica originated from: A. Oaxaca B. Morelos C. Michoacn D. Guerrero

Q: What have excavations at Mound 51 at Cahokia revealed?

Q: The settlement pattern of the Teuchitln region changed from the Early to Middle Classic because the inhabitants: A. practised chinampas agriculture B. needed to secure more defensible locations C. wished to take advantage of low-lying areas near water resources D. moved from centralized sites to more dispersed settlements

Q: How have archaeologists interpreted Cahokia?

Q: How have archaeologists interpreted Chaco Canyon?

Q: Mesoamerica's northern frontier provided Mesoamerica with: A. semi-precious greenstone B. limestone C. pottery D. mirrors

Q: What was the function of Pueblo Bonito?

Q: What was Stonehenge?

Q: The southern Arizona site that was established in about ad 450 was: A. Alta Vista B. Cerro Moctehuma C. Snaketown D. Teuchitln

Q: What was Karl Wittfogel's theory of early state formation?

Q: Acoculco, Ching, and El Tesoro: A. developed at the time that Teotihuacan was at its peak B. provided the Teotihuacanos with the raw materials for making pottery C. were hilltop centers in the Tula region that peaked after Teotihuacan's decline D. were Oaxacan sites that produced goods for trade with Teotihuacan

Q: How do Morton Fried and Elman Service view the development of political complexity?

Q: Teotihuacan rulers had a keen interest in the area to the northwest of the Basin of Mexico because it was a source of: A. exotic Oaxacan pottery B. defensible hilltop centers C. limestone for plaster D. water for the city's large population

Q: Teotihuacan's influence: A. extended from North to South America B. is difficult to discern in the archaeological record C. was found throughout Mesoamerica D. lasted into the Postclassic and Colonial periods

Q: An external factor in Teotihuacan's decline may have been: A. an earthquake that destroyed most of the city's pyramids B. a period of worldwide climatic cooling C. a severe drought that lasted decades D. a huge flood that submerged low-lying apartment compounds

Q: The tower at Great Zimbabwe is called a dhaka.

Q: Analysis of Teotihuacan's population shows that: A. almost all inhabitants were born in the city B. infection and undernutrition were common C. the urban diet was better there than in the rural hinterlands D. its inhabitants came primarily from the Valley of Oaxaca and the Maya lowlands

Q: The elite of Great Zimbabwe lived within great enclosures that symbolized their power and status.

Q: Great Zimbabwe was a foreign trading post in Shona-speaking South Africa.

Q: Many archaeologists see Cahokia as a society on the verge of becoming a state.