AP World History Quarter I Test Review

Explanation
The Aryan conquerors brought to India distinctive religious ideas, which had a significant impact on the development of Indian civilization. These ideas formed the basis of Hinduism, one of the world's oldest religions. The Aryan conquest also brought long-lasting peace and stability to the region, allowing for the growth and development of Indian society. Additionally, the Aryans admired India's earlier inhabitants and incorporated some of their cultural practices into their own. While the Aryan conquerors may have introduced new agricultural techniques, this is not mentioned in the given information. Therefore, the correct answer is B, distinctive religious ideas, long-lasting peace and stability, and admiration for India's earlier inhabitants.

Explanation
Most scholars today agree that humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other continents. This theory is supported by fossil and genetic evidence, which shows that the oldest human fossils and the greatest genetic diversity are found in Africa. Additionally, archaeological evidence suggests that early humans gradually spread from Africa to other parts of the world over time.

Explanation
The African proverb, "Until the lions have their historians, tales of hunting will always glorify the hunter," conveys that history usually reflects the viewpoint of the victors. This means that the dominant or powerful group tends to shape the narrative of history, often glorifying themselves and their actions while marginalizing or erasing the perspectives of the oppressed or less powerful groups. The proverb suggests that it is important for marginalized or oppressed groups to have their own historians and storytellers in order to provide a more balanced and inclusive understanding of history.

Explanation
The statement that some pre-agricultural archaeological sites across the world have yielded evidence of significant disparities in the amount and quality of objects placed in individual graves undermines the assertion that significant social inequalities emerged only after the adoption of agriculture. This suggests that social inequalities existed even before the advent of agriculture, as evidenced by the differences in the burial practices and wealth distribution among pre-agricultural societies.

Explanation
The correct answer is C, irrigation systems. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, ancient Indian (Harappan), and ancient Chinese civilizations all developed advanced irrigation systems to support their agricultural economies. These civilizations relied on the construction of canals, dikes, and reservoirs to control the flow of water and ensure a consistent water supply for their crops. Irrigation systems were crucial for the success and sustainability of these civilizations, allowing them to flourish and support larger populations.

Explanation
The Hebrews in Mesopotamia were monotheists. This means that they believed in and worshipped only one God, unlike other groups mentioned in the options. The Hittites in Egypt, the Harappan in India, and the Shang in China did not follow monotheism.

Explanation
The correct answer is uniform written language. In Shang China, the development of a uniform written language became a bond between people. This allowed for better communication and understanding among the population, fostering a sense of unity and shared identity. Additionally, a uniform written language facilitated the administration of the centralized government and the recording of important historical and cultural information.

Explanation
Most early civilizations before 600 BCE shared the characteristics of urban centers, growing populations, and writing systems. These civilizations developed in areas with fertile land and access to water, leading to the growth of cities and the establishment of complex societies. The increase in population allowed for the specialization of labor and the development of trade networks. Writing systems emerged to record important information, such as laws, religious beliefs, and economic transactions. These characteristics were fundamental in shaping the early civilizations and their cultural, social, and political structures.

Explanation
Myths provide insights into the values and traditions of their societies.

Explanation
The correct answer is C. The ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt developed along rivers. Mesopotamia developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, while Egypt developed along the Nile river. The rivers provided a source of water for agriculture, transportation, and trade, which played a crucial role in the development and success of these civilizations.

Explanation
Maize is the correct answer because it is the staple crop most associated with the rise of Mesoamerican civilizations. Maize, also known as corn, was a crucial crop for these civilizations as it provided a stable food source and allowed for the development of complex societies. The cultivation of maize allowed for population growth, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the development of advanced agricultural techniques. Additionally, maize played a significant role in the cultural and religious practices of Mesoamerican civilizations.

Explanation
The political system in Egypt was characterized by having a king known as the pharaoh.

Explanation
The "son of heaven" concept was designed to promote loyalty of the emperor, centralization of power in the state, and the remoteness of the emperor from subjects. It was not designed to promote priests control of the state or provide an explanation of the decline of dynasties.

Explanation
The correct answer is B. Paleolithic societies are generally believed to have acquired stone tools and fire. Iron and bronze technologies were developed much later in history, during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages respectively. Therefore, options II and III (stone tools and fire) are the correct choices for technologies acquired by Paleolithic societies. Option I (fire) is also correct as it is well-known that Paleolithic societies used fire for various purposes such as cooking, warmth, and protection.

Explanation
Both agricultural societies in the Americas and those in the Eastern Hemisphere were polytheistic.

Explanation
Oracle bones were used to communicate with ancestors in ancient China. Oracle bones were pieces of turtle shell or bone that were inscribed with questions and then heated until they cracked. The cracks were then interpreted by priests as messages from the ancestors. This practice was a form of divination and was commonly used during the Shang Dynasty in China.

Explanation
The statement that defines the dynastic cycle is that initially a Chinese government enjoyed prosperity and economic growth, but over time corruption, internal disasters, and external invasions all eroded a dynasty's power. This explanation describes the cyclical pattern in which Chinese dynasties would rise to power, experience a period of prosperity, and then decline due to various factors such as corruption and external threats. This pattern would then repeat with the rise of a new dynasty.

Explanation
Patriarchal relationships are characterized by women's inferior status, which results in them being placed under the protection of male family members. This suggests that women are seen as needing the guidance and control of men, and their actions and decisions are often dictated by male authority figures.

Explanation
The correct answer is C. The invention of writing systems and the growth of cities occurred only in civilizations that developed complex institutions. This means that in order for writing systems to be developed and for cities to grow, civilizations needed to have complex institutions in place. This suggests that complex institutions were necessary for the advancement of these civilizations.

Explanation
Metal tools were preferred over wood and stone tools for all of the following reasons except they were easier for ordinary people to produce in mass at home. Metal tools required specialized skills and equipment to produce, making them less accessible for ordinary people to make at home compared to wood and stone tools.

Explanation
Women were important contributors to the Agricultural Revolution because they performed essential agricultural tasks such as plowing and irrigation. This suggests that they played a crucial role in the cultivation of crops and the development of agricultural techniques. Additionally, their knowledge of where grains grew and their ability to gather edible plants would have been valuable in sustaining the community's food supply.

Explanation
In the Middle East, people began to settle in small communities and practice agriculture. This marked the beginning of a significant shift in human society known as the Neolithic Revolution.

Explanation
Sanskrit is the correct answer because it is an Indo-European language that was spread to India through migration around 1500 BCE. Sanskrit is considered to be the oldest language of the Indo-Aryan branch and has had a significant influence on the development of many languages in the Indian subcontinent, including Hindi. Arabic, Mandarin, and Farsi are not Indo-European languages and therefore are not the correct answer.

Explanation
The development of agriculture in societies that previously relied on hunting and gathering resulted in an increase in population density. This is because agriculture allowed for a more reliable and abundant food supply, which in turn supported larger populations. As a result, people were able to settle in one place and form permanent settlements, leading to an increase in population density.

Explanation
The correct answer is A. The early civilizations of the Nile River Valley, Mesopotamia, and the Yangtze were similar because they were dependent on fertile land. This is because these civilizations relied heavily on agriculture for their survival and prosperity. The fertile land provided by the rivers allowed for the development of complex agricultural systems, which in turn supported the growth of these civilizations. The abundance of food from agriculture also led to the growth of population and the development of more complex social and political structures.

Explanation
In the late Indus River Valley civilization, the highest status was held by the priests. This can be inferred from the fact that priests were considered to have a special connection with the divine and were responsible for performing religious rituals and ceremonies. Their role in the religious and spiritual life of the civilization would have given them significant power and influence, thereby elevating their social status above that of warriors, merchants, and untouchables.

Explanation
The emergence of agriculture, or the Neolithic Revolution, caused the ability of humans to settle more permanently in one spot, a population explosion, and an increase in the specialization of political, economic, and religious functions. However, it did not directly cause the introduction of artistic expression.

Explanation
The river valley civilization made significant contributions to the development of formal divisions of time into a calendar, the wheel, written language, and important mathematical concepts such as square roots. However, it did not contribute to the development of monotheistic religions.

Explanation
The river valleys of the Tigris-Euphrates, the Nile, and the Indus were centers of civilization because they provided a means of transportation and irrigation. These rivers allowed for easy transportation of goods and people, facilitating trade and cultural exchange. They also provided a reliable source of water for irrigation, which allowed for the development of agriculture and the growth of complex societies. Additionally, the fertile soil deposited by these rivers made the surrounding areas highly productive for farming, supporting large populations and the development of advanced civilizations.

Explanation
The sacred text that originated in the Indus River Valley after the migration of the Aryan people from Central Asia is the Vedas.

Explanation
The caste system in traditional India classified individuals into different social groups based on their birth, and the Hindu beliefs in karma and dharma emphasized the idea that one's social position and fate in life were determined by their actions in previous lives. These beliefs and the caste system led to the establishment of a set of rules for each individual in society, as their caste determined their occupation, social interactions, and even marriage partners. Therefore, option A is the correct answer as it directly reflects the impact of the caste system and Hindu beliefs on the establishment of rules for individuals in traditional Indian society.

Explanation
The excerpt from the Code of Hammurabi illustrates that Babylonian society was marked by social inequalities. This is evident from the different punishments for harming individuals of different social classes. Nobles who harmed other nobles faced the same harm in return, while commoners and slaves had to pay monetary compensation for their actions. This demonstrates a hierarchical structure in which the punishment varied based on one's social status.

Explanation
Trade, war, and travel can all contribute to the diffusion of inventions. Trade allows for the exchange of goods and ideas between different regions, leading to the spread of inventions. War can also lead to the transfer of technology and knowledge as conquerors bring new ideas and practices to the conquered territories. Travel enables individuals to move between different areas, bringing their knowledge and inventions with them and sharing them with others. Therefore, all of these factors can contribute to the diffusion of inventions.

Explanation
The correct answer is C. The first civilizations on the Eurasian and African continents developed in the Nile, Tigris/Euphrates, Yellow, and Indus river valleys. These river valleys provided fertile land for agriculture, which allowed for the development of complex societies and civilizations. The Nile River in Egypt, the Tigris/Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia, the Yellow River in China, and the Indus River in the Indian subcontinent were all crucial to the growth and prosperity of these early civilizations.