Before Civilization Multiple Choice Questions

1. Human cultures down to the fourth millennium B.C.E. are referred to as belonging to the Stone Age because they:

Made most of their tools out of stone

Built urban structures primarily of stone

Used rocks and stones as weapons

Lived in caves

Human cultures down to the fourth millennium B.C.E. are referred to as belonging to the Stone Age because they made most of their tools out of stone. This period is characterized by the use of stone tools, such as hand axes, scrapers, and blades, which were essential for hunting, gathering, and other daily activities. The use of stone tools was a significant technological advancement during this time, marking a transition from earlier periods where tools were primarily made of organic materials like wood and bone.

Explanation

Human cultures down to the fourth millennium B.C.E. are referred to as belonging to the Stone Age because they made most of their tools out of stone. This period is characterized by the use of stone tools, such as hand axes, scrapers, and blades, which were essential for hunting, gathering, and other daily activities. The use of stone tools was a significant technological advancement during this time, marking a transition from earlier periods where tools were primarily made of organic materials like wood and bone.

2. To the peoples of the ancient world, the characteristic manifestations of civilization—government, literature, science, and art—were necessarily products of:

Rural life

City life

Religious life

Nomadic life

The correct answer is city life because cities were the centers of civilization in the ancient world. Government, literature, science, and art flourished in cities where people could gather, exchange ideas, and specialize in different fields. Cities provided the infrastructure and resources necessary for these manifestations of civilization to thrive. Rural life, religious life, and nomadic life may have had their own unique characteristics and contributions, but they were not the primary drivers of civilization in the ancient world.

Explanation

The correct answer is city life because cities were the centers of civilization in the ancient world. Government, literature, science, and art flourished in cities where people could gather, exchange ideas, and specialize in different fields. Cities provided the infrastructure and resources necessary for these manifestations of civilization to thrive. Rural life, religious life, and nomadic life may have had their own unique characteristics and contributions, but they were not the primary drivers of civilization in the ancient world.

3. Cave paintings, such as those found in Lascaux, France, are evidence of:

Development of a stratified society.

Development of permanent settlement.

Development of language as well as religious and artistic ideas.

Development of a priestly class.

The cave paintings found in Lascaux, France, provide evidence of the development of language as well as religious and artistic ideas. These paintings depict various animals and symbols, suggesting that early humans had the ability to communicate through visual representation. Additionally, the presence of religious and artistic themes in the paintings indicates a belief system and the expression of creativity and imagination. This suggests that early humans were not only capable of language development but also had complex thoughts and ideas related to spirituality and artistic expression.

Explanation

The cave paintings found in Lascaux, France, provide evidence of the development of language as well as religious and artistic ideas. These paintings depict various animals and symbols, suggesting that early humans had the ability to communicate through visual representation. Additionally, the presence of religious and artistic themes in the paintings indicates a belief system and the expression of creativity and imagination. This suggests that early humans were not only capable of language development but also had complex thoughts and ideas related to spirituality and artistic expression.

4. Although many prehistoric settlements are known, one of the earliest of these in modern-day Turkey is:

Jericho

Ur

Çatalhöyük

Lagash

Çatalhöyük is one of the earliest prehistoric settlements in modern-day Turkey. It is a Neolithic site located in the central Anatolian region and dates back to around 7500 BCE. The site is known for its well-preserved remains of houses, which were built closely together in a densely populated community. The people of Çatalhöyük were engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, and they created intricate pottery and stone tools. The site provides valuable insights into the social, economic, and cultural aspects of early human settlements in the region.

Explanation

Çatalhöyük is one of the earliest prehistoric settlements in modern-day Turkey. It is a Neolithic site located in the central Anatolian region and dates back to around 7500 BCE. The site is known for its well-preserved remains of houses, which were built closely together in a densely populated community. The people of Çatalhöyük were engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, and they created intricate pottery and stone tools. The site provides valuable insights into the social, economic, and cultural aspects of early human settlements in the region.

5. Before 11,000 B.C.E., virtually all human societies were:

Engaged in settled agriculture to produce crop surpluses for the gods.

Able to use metal tools for arts, crafts, and building.

Using men to do the hunting and women the gathering.

Nomadic, moving incessantly in search of limited food.

Before 11,000 B.C.E., human societies were primarily nomadic and constantly on the move in search of limited food resources. This was due to the absence of settled agriculture and the lack of crop surpluses. The use of metal tools for arts, crafts, and building was not yet prevalent during this time period. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that men were exclusively responsible for hunting and women for gathering in all human societies at this time.

Explanation

Before 11,000 B.C.E., human societies were primarily nomadic and constantly on the move in search of limited food resources. This was due to the absence of settled agriculture and the lack of crop surpluses. The use of metal tools for arts, crafts, and building was not yet prevalent during this time period. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that men were exclusively responsible for hunting and women for gathering in all human societies at this time.

6. Since human beings in the Paleolithic period had no domestic animals:

Great disparities developed in individual wealth.

They could be easily ruled by tribal kings.

They had no significant wealth beyond what they could carry.

They used wild animals as beasts of burden.

In the Paleolithic period, human beings did not have domestic animals, which meant they did not have a reliable source of wealth beyond what they could carry. Without domesticated animals to provide resources such as food, labor, and transportation, individuals would not have been able to accumulate significant wealth. This lack of wealth beyond what they could carry likely contributed to the development of great disparities in individual wealth.

Explanation

In the Paleolithic period, human beings did not have domestic animals, which meant they did not have a reliable source of wealth beyond what they could carry. Without domesticated animals to provide resources such as food, labor, and transportation, individuals would not have been able to accumulate significant wealth. This lack of wealth beyond what they could carry likely contributed to the development of great disparities in individual wealth.

7. The earliest ancestors of human beings who used stone to make tools originated in Africa approximately _________ years ago.

7 million

5 million

2 million 2 million

750,000

Approximately 5 million years ago, the earliest ancestors of human beings in Africa began using stone to make tools. This suggests that tool-making behavior and the development of early human intelligence and problem-solving skills were already present at that time. This discovery provides important insights into the evolution and progression of human civilization.

Explanation

Approximately 5 million years ago, the earliest ancestors of human beings in Africa began using stone to make tools. This suggests that tool-making behavior and the development of early human intelligence and problem-solving skills were already present at that time. This discovery provides important insights into the evolution and progression of human civilization.

8. Although hominid existence extends back millennia, human civilization extends back only to approximately:

13,000 B.C.E.

8000 B.C.E.

5000 B.C.E.

3000 B.C.E.

The correct answer is 3000 B.C.E. This is because human civilization is generally considered to have begun with the rise of the first cities and complex societies, which occurred around this time in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. While hominids have been around for much longer, it was only around 3000 B.C.E. that humans began to develop organized societies, agriculture, writing systems, and other hallmarks of civilization.

Explanation

The correct answer is 3000 B.C.E. This is because human civilization is generally considered to have begun with the rise of the first cities and complex societies, which occurred around this time in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. While hominids have been around for much longer, it was only around 3000 B.C.E. that humans began to develop organized societies, agriculture, writing systems, and other hallmarks of civilization.