Module 1
The study of world history
1. What is one way that climate can influence history?
a) by affecting the availability of food
b) by encouraging the keeping of records
c) by encouraging the specialization of labor
d) by affecting the development of scholarly theories
2. What is one way that archaeologists influence the
interpretation of history?
a) by deciphering written records
b) by evaluating genetic information
c) by supplying evidence about how people lived
d) by establishing rules about how civilizations developed
3. What is one reason that interpretations of history change
over time?
a) People are becoming less biased.
b) New evidence is being discovered.
c) People are becoming more curious.
d) New civilizations are being established.
4. Why is geography important for historians?
When studying history, social scientists consider these
aspects of geography (physical, human, and cultural
characteristics)
5. Give some examples of nations that got advantages or
disadvantages from their geographical location?
Japan had disadvantages from its geographical location
because it was isolated, and no one could trade with
them. The United Kingdom had advantages from its
geographical location because they were surrounded by
water which protected them from invasion, and they had
many trade routes.
6. Could geography affect exploration?
Yes. Britain had advantages when exploring and
conquering parts of north and south America.
7. Why do archeologists usually work with people from other
disciplines?
Because they want someone to interpret their findings
(fossils and artifacts).
8. Why do archeologists use artifacts to learn about the past?
To find clues about their findings.
9. Make Inferences How might bias affect a historian's
interpretation of history?
A historian's interpretation of history might be affected by
bias because of his or her own connection to the subject
matter. For example, a historian whose family was adversely
affected by a historical development would be less likely to
have a favorable view of that development.
Human Origins in Africa
1. How do paleontologists contribute to an understanding of
prehistory?
a) by studying human cultures
b) by studying written records
c) by studying artifacts
d) by studying fossils
2. Which development took place during the Neolithic Age?
a) the ability to use tools
b) the ability to grow crops
c) the ability to walk upright
d) the ability to hunt animals
3. What is one way that Cro-Magnons were different from
Neanderthals?
a) They cooked their food.
b) They planned their hunts.
c) They were physically strong.
d) They were geographically isolated.
4. How have recent advances in scientific technology helped to
increase our understanding of human origins?
a) by enabling scientists to locate caves
b) by enabling scientists to date artifacts
c) by enabling scientists to trace common ancestors
d) by enabling scientists to restore human-made objects
5. Why was the discovery of the first hominids important to the
study of prehistory?
The discovery of hominids was important to the study of
prehistory because they walked upright and had the ability to
use tools, and therefore can be considered to mark the start
of human history. This discovery established a baseline for
understanding the development of human cultures.
6. Why might Neanderthals have been portrayed in popular
culture as club-carrying cavemen?
Neanderthals might have been portrayed in culture as clubcarrying cavemen to enable modern-day humans to distance
themselves from their prehistoric roots. Because Neanderthals
mysteriously disappeared and Cro-Magnons thrived and
developed into Homo sapiens, modern-day humans can
believe that they are superior to "primitive" Neanderthals.
7. Why is it reasonable to conclude that our understanding of
human origins will continue to grow?
It is reasonable to conclude that our understanding of human
origins will continue to grow because new sites will likely be
discovered in Africa and other parts of the world. The artifacts and
human remains found at these sites will likely add to our
understanding of how modern-day cultures developed from earlier
human societies.
8. What are the components of culture?
Common practices, shared understandings, social
organization
9. Mention 2 examples of common practices?
Sports and clothing.
10. Shared understandings?
Language, symbols, religion and values.
11. What is an anthropologist?
They examine the artifacts at archeological digs.
12. When and where was the first human-like footprint found?
Laetoli, Tanzania . 1978
13. How can you tell that the first human lived in Africa?
Based on the discovery of Mary Leakey and Donald
Johansson
14.
Why was the thumb important for the early hominids?
They used it to make tools and hold things.
15.
Walking upright helped hominids, explain.
Walking upright helped them travel long distances more
easily. They were also able to spot threatening animals and
carry food and children.
16.
The stone age can be mainly divided into two parts.
What are they?
Paleolithic and Neolithic ages
17.
Who do scientist think were the first to use tools?
Homo habilis.
18.
What indicates the intelligence of homo erectus?
They were the first people to use fire and spoken language.
They named things, and they traveled out of Africa.
19.
What was the main difference between homo erectus
and homo sapiens?
Homo Sapiens had larger brains.
20.
Homo sapiens are divided into two groups, what are
they?
Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons
21.
What conclusion could scientists draw about
Neanderthals?
They were strong, had powerfully build bones, had heavy
slanted brows, and well-developed muscles.
22.
How could you tell that we are descendants of CroMagnons?
Their skeletal remains show that they are identical to modern
humans?
Humans Try to Control Nature
1. How did the invention of tools benefit early modern
humans?
a) by enabling them to build rock shelters
b) by enabling them to increase their safety
c) by enabling them to create cave paintings
d) by enabling them to increase their food supply
2. What is the major advantage farmers had over
hunters?
a) They needed less water.
b) They needed fewer tools
c) They had a wide variety of food.
d) They had a stable source of food.
3.
4. Who were the first to develop agriculture?
Cro-Magnons
5. List some tools that were used by Cro-Magnons?
● Knives
● Fish hooks and harpoons
● Chisel like cutters
● Bone needles
6. What items did the early humans use as artistic
creations?
Necklaces of seashell, lion teeth, and bear claws
adorned both men and women.
7. What were the most well-known care paintings of
early humans and what materials did they use?
8. What was the slash and burn farming method?
The cutting of trees and grass to clear land then
burning the trees to cultivate the land.
9. How did early humans use animals?
Some where used for hunting, others were used as a
stable source of food, and others were used to carry
heavy loads.
10. What supported agriculture in Africa and China?
The Nile River valley in Africa, and the Yellow River in
China
11. List the crops and plants grown in Mexico and
Peru?
In Mexico they grew corn, beans, and squash. In Peru
they grew tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and white
potatoes.
12. What items did early humans use as artistic
creations?
Necklaces of seashell, lion teeth, and bear claw
adorned both men and women.
13. What were the most well-known cave paintings of
early humans? What materials did they use?
The best known of these are the paintings on the
walls and ceilings of European caves, mainly in
France and Spain. There, early artists drew lifelike
images of wild animals. Cave artists made colored
paints from charcoal, mud, and animal blood.
14. Give an example of an ancient highly populated
village.
The forked mound was a village located in Turkey. It
had highly fertile soil which caused it to have
population of around 6,000 to 8,000 people living in
1,000 dwellings at its peak 8,000 years ago.
15. People who lived in forked mound had a modern
civilization, explain.
They used a particular kind of construction material.
Instead of building hard, lime floors that held up for
decades, the inhabitants of Catal Huyuk made their
floors mostly out of lime-rich mud plaster, which
remained soft and in need of continual resurfacing.
Once a year-in some cases once a month- floors and
wall plaster had to be resurfaced.
16. Jericho was a village 7,000bc, but people there
couldn’t establish a civilization, explain.
Floods, fire, drought, and other natural disasters could
destroy a village. Diseases such as Malaria spread
easily across people living closely together.
17. List some artifacts found in Skara Brae.
Flint pieces, beautifully decorated clay plots, clothing
from animal skins, & jewelry from bone beads.
18. What was more special about Skara Brae?
They buried their dead in the Earth and surrounded
them with stone walls.
19. Why could pottery be considered a special aspect
of Chinese civilization?
Archaeologists could conclude that there were no
social classes in the Chinese Civilization.
20. What Stonehenge findings reveal about neolithic
people?
That they died because of diseases.
21. What is the difference between Stonehenge and
Superhenge?
Stonehenge is on the Earth surface, but Super henge
is under ground.
22. When was Super henge discovered?
2015