Explaining Your Choice

For each of the following questions, state which letter best answers or completes the question and give a brief explanation (2-3 sentences) for why that is the best choice. There is generally only one good answer per question, but sometimes there may be more than one, depending on how well you can justify your answer. NO CREDIT for answers without explanations, and the explanation must logically justify your choice.

 1. Social distinctions in Mesopotamia

a. were much less pronounced than they had been during the neolithic age.

b. were much less pronounced than they had been during the paleolithic age.

c. were much more pronounced than they had been during the neolithic age.

d. did not exist.

e. both a and b are true.

2. All of the following statements are true in relations to the Harappan society except:

a. their writings have provided a wealth of information for historians.

b. their houses featured private showers and toilets.

c. they traded extensively with the Mesopotamians.

d. they had social distinctions.

e. they produced representational art.

3. The most important aspect of the Aryan religion during early Vedic times was:

a. a strict moral code centered on cultural toleration and peaceful conduct.

b. a tightly-structured monotheism.

c. the acceptance of Indra as a loving, personal savior.

d. the proper performance of ritual sacrifices.

e. the enlightenment of the Buddha.

4. To deal with the immense size of the Zhou state, its emperors were forced to:

a. rule through the use of incredible terror.

b. deny divine status for any particular ruler.

c. create a feudal system.

d. bring in troops from their Indian allies.

e. create a representative legislature.

5. Which of the following was not a creation of the Maya?

a. the concept of zero.

b. the most elaborate calendar of the ancient Americas.

c. the wheel.

d. a system of writing.

e. the Temple of the Giant Jaguar.

6.  Which of the following basic tenets of Zoroastrianism did not influence later religions?
 

          a. the belief in a heaven and hell.
          b. the encouragement of high moral standards.
          c. the view of the material world as a place of temptation that had to be ignored.
 d. the doctrine that individuals will undergo a final judgment.
          e. the belief that each individual plays a key role in determining his or her spiritual destiny. 

7. The Han dynasty’s philosophy of rule was:
 

    a. strict adherence to Legalism to the exclusion of all other philosophies.
    b. dependent on the constant and unrelenting use of terror.
    c. dependent on the social and political activism of Daoist ministers of state.
    d. a full continuation of Qin policies with a return to Confucian values.
 e. copied from Mauryan India.

 8.  The success and timing of trade through the Indian Ocean basin largely depended on
 

    a. controlling the actions of Turkish pirates.
    b. forming a lasting trading partnership with China.
    c. understanding the rhythms of the monsoon winds.
    d. the Indian desire to purchase pepper from the Romans.
    e. the invention of a revolutionary sailing vehicle.

9.  Which of the following statements is true about women in the Greek world?
 

    a. Their roles varied dramatically among the various poleis.
    b. Freedom and opportunity for women reached its peak in Athens.
    c. Their roles were limited in a strictly patriarchal society.
    d. Greek women were provided dramatically more freedom than in any other society of the ancient age.
    e. Women increased dramatically in importance until they often found themselves in positions of leadership.

10.  After naming himself dictator in 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar did all of the following except:
 

    a. launch large-scale building projects in Rome.
    b. give land to the conservatives to win their favor.
 c. extend Roman citizenship to peoples in the imperial provinces.
    d. appoint some Gauls to the Roman senate.
    e. seize land from the conservatives and distribute it to his army veterans.