ARTIFACTS AND SITES
Which of the following is an artifact?
A. A mountain near the Nile River
B. A clay pot made by ancient people
C. A storm over the desert
D. A river valley
B. A clay pot made by ancient people
Archaeologists discover clay tablets containing records of grain collected and distributed in an ancient Mesopotamian city. How could these tablets help historians understand the civilization?
A. They showed how people managed and recorded resources.
B. They proved the city had no government.
C. They described the clothing people wore.
D. They listed the names of all the rulers.
A. They showed how people managed and recorded resources.
A historian wants to learn how ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife. Which source would provide the most useful evidence?
A. A modern map of Egypt
B. A list of grain amounts from Mesopotamia
C. A collection of Egyptian farming tools
D. A set of Egyptian tomb paintings showing burial rituals and offerings
D. A set of Egyptian tomb paintings showing burial rituals and offerings
Which ruler is known for a famous written code of laws in Babylon?
A. Tutankhamun
B. Hammurabi
C. Ramses II
D. Julius Caesar
B. Hammurabi
A student says, “Ancient sites and artifacts are important because they allow historians to learn about the past even when written records are limited.” Which example best supports the student’s statement?
A. Historians read a modern newspaper about ancient Egypt.
B. Historians copy the names of rulers from a textbook.
C. Archaeologists study the remains of ancient homes to learn how people lived and used those spaces.
D. Historians measure the height of modern buildings.
C. Archaeologists study the remains of ancient homes to learn how people lived and used those spaces.
Which material did people in ancient Mesopotamia commonly use to make tablets for writing?
A. Papyrus
B. Gold
C. Clay
D. Wood
C. Clay
A historian studies an ancient Egyptian tomb containing food, jewelry, and other objects placed with a person’s body. What is the most reasonable conclusion the historian could draw from this evidence?
A. Ancient Egyptians may have believed people need possessions or supplies in the afterlife.
B. Ancient Egyptians had no food to eat in daily life.
C. Ancient Egyptians did not value jewelry.
D. The person in the tomb died of hunger.
A. Ancient Egyptians may have believed people need possessions or supplies in the afterlife.
Which statement best explains why the Code of Hammurabi is useful to historians?
A. It shows what Babylonians ate every day.
B. It lists the names of every citizen.
C. It proves Babylon had no rules.
D. It provides written evidence about laws and social order in Babylon.
D. It provides written evidence about laws and social order in Babylon.
Why might historians study broken pottery found at an ancient site?
A. To learn the exact words of the king
B. To prove that no one lived there
C. To find out what the weather will be tomorrow
D. To learn what people made, used, and traded
D. To learn what people made, used, and traded
A class is studying how writing affected ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Which statements explain the importance of written records in these civilizations? (Select TWO.)
A. Written records made it harder to share ideas.
B. Written records helped people preserve information and communicate it over time.
C. Written records were only used for decoration.
D. Written records can provide evidence about laws, trade, government, and beliefs.
B. Written records helped people preserve information and communicate it over time.
D. Written records can provide evidence about laws, trade, government, and beliefs.
A tomb is filled with gold jewelry and fine furniture, while a nearby grave has only a few clay pots. What can a historian reasonably infer?
A. All Egyptians had the same amount of wealth.
B. The nearby grave belonged to a pharaoh.
C. Some people in ancient Egypt had more wealth or higher status than others.
D. Clay pots were more valuable than gold.
C. Some people in ancient Egypt had more wealth or higher status than others.
A historian wants to determine how laws affected people in ancient Babylon. The historian examines the Code of Hammurabi, which includes different punishments for similar offenses depending on a person’s social status. Which conclusion is best supported by this evidence?
A. Social status influenced how some offenses were punished in Babylonian society.
B. Everyone was punished the same way.
C. Laws in Babylon were not written down.
D. Punishments depended only on the weather.
A. Social status influenced how some offenses were punished in Babylonian society.
Which statements explain why artifacts from ancient Egypt are important sources of historical evidence? (Select TWO.)
A. Tools can show evidence about the work people performed.
B. Artifacts are only useful if they have writing on them.
C. Jewelry can provide clues about artistic skills, materials, and social status.
D. Artifacts always tell historians the exact date and name of the owner.
A. Tools can show evidence about the work people performed.
C. Jewelry can provide clues about artistic skills, materials, and social status.
Students compare a Mesopotamian clay tablet recording a business transaction with an Egyptian inscription describing a ruler’s accomplishments. What can the students reasonably conclude from these sources?
A. Neither civilization used writing for practical purposes.
B. Both civilizations used written records for different purposes.
C. Mesopotamians could write, but Egyptians could not.
D. Both civilizations only wrote about rulers.
B. Both civilizations used written records for different purposes.
Why is it important for historians to use more than one type of source when studying Egyptian burial practices?
A. One source is always enough.
B. Using paintings, objects, and writing together gives a more complete and reliable picture.
C. Different sources always disagree.
D. Paintings are the only source historians can trust.
B. Using paintings, objects, and writing together gives a more complete and reliable picture.
A student claims, “The Code of Hammurabi proves every person in Babylon was treated the same.” Why is this claim NOT supported by the evidence?
A. The code was written in Egypt.
B. The code only had one punishment.
C. The code lists different punishments depending on a person’s social status.
D. The code does not mention punishments.
C. The code lists different punishments depending on a person’s social status.