Geography & CRQ
What three things did rivers provide that helped early civilizations develop?
Water for agriculture, transportation, and trade.
What river was most important for farming in ancient Egypt?
The Nile River.
What two rivers formed the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia?
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Which ancient Chinese dynasty was associated with oracle bones?
The Shang Dynasty.
What is cultural diffusion?
The spread of ideas, beliefs, technology, or cultural practices from one society to another.
What geographic feature most influenced the development of ancient Egypt?
The Nile River.
What does it mean to be polytheistic?
Believing in multiple gods. Ancient Egyptians were polytheistic.
What was the main purpose of Mesopotamian ziggurats?
To honor and worship their gods. They were religious temples.
What was the Mandate of Heaven?
The belief that a ruler received the right to govern from Heaven.
What was one important way the Bantu developed connections between communities?
Through migration, cultural diffusion, networks, and the sharing of ideas and practices.
Identify TWO geographic circumstances that helped ancient Egypt develop into a successful civilization.
The Nile's predictable flooding provided fertile soil for farming, while deserts, mountains, and seas offered natural protection.
Why did ancient Egyptians practice mummification?
They believed in an afterlife and wanted to preserve the body for the journey after death.
What was Hammurabi's Code?
A written set of laws that established rules and punishments in Babylonian society.
What was one major characteristic of Indus Valley cities such as Mohenjo-Daro?
Highly organized city layouts with planned streets and plumbing/drainage systems.
How did Bantu migration contribute to the development of complex societies?
Bantu-speaking peoples spread agriculture, ironworking, languages, and cultural practices across different regions of Africa.
What does a historian mean by geographic circumstances?
The physical features and environmental conditions of a place that influence how people live and develop.
According to the Egyptian Scribal Exercise Book, why was being a scribe considered a desirable occupation?
Scribes had higher social status, wealth, access to the Pharaoh, and were protected from difficult physical labor.
What does the phrase "an eye for an eye" reveal about Hammurabi's Code?
Punishments were often based on retaliation, meaning a person received a punishment similar to the harm they caused.
How did oracle bones help Shang rulers?
They were used to communicate with ancestors or spirits and seek answers about future events and important decisions.
Which civilization developed in ancient Mesoamerica and is known for the sacrificial ball game?
The Olmec civilization.
A document shows a civilization developing near a river with fertile soil and easy transportation. Explain how geography contributed to its development.
The river provided water and fertile soil for farming, created food surpluses, and allowed transportation and trade to develop.
A document describes peasants being beaten by tax collectors while scribes enjoy wealth and privilege. What perspective does the author communicate about Egyptian society?
The author presents scribes as superior and desirable while portraying peasants as overworked, poor, and mistreated. The text promotes becoming a scribe.
A Babylonian document warns people to control their speech because of the god Shamash. What does this reveal about Babylonian society?
Religion influenced everyday behavior, and social expectations were connected to divine authority and religious beliefs.
Compare the Shang Dynasty and Indus Valley civilization. Identify ONE major difference in their historical evidence or developments.
The Shang left evidence such as oracle bones, bronze objects, and written symbols, while Indus cities are known for planned urban layouts, drainage systems, and undeciphered writing.
Explain how networks and cultural diffusion helped the Bantu develop complex societies. Use TWO specific examples.
Bantu migration connected communities and spread languages, farming practices, and ironworking technology. These exchanges helped communities grow and develop more complex societies.