Question 1

What is the significance of the mummified remains found in the Tarim Basin?

Accepted Answer

The mummified remains found in the Tarim Basin, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, are of significant historical and archaeological interest for several reasons:

1. **Preservation of Ancient Cultures**: The mummies, which date back as far as 1800 BCE, provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the people who lived in the region during the Bronze Age. They are remarkably well-preserved due to the arid conditions of the Tarim Basin, which have kept the remains from decomposing. This preservation allows researchers to study the physical characteristics, clothing, and burial practices of these ancient peoples.

2. **Cultural Diversity**: The mummies exhibit a variety of genetic and cultural backgrounds, suggesting that the Tarim Basin was a melting pot of different peoples. Some of the mummies have features that appear Caucasian, which has led to theories about migrations from the West into China long before the Silk Road facilitated such exchanges. This challenges the traditional view of ancient migration patterns and suggests a more complex prehistoric interaction between East and West.

3. **Textiles and Clothing**: The clothing and textiles found with the mummies are some of the oldest and most sophisticated ever discovered. They include woven materials and patterns that indicate a high level of skill and artistry. The diversity in clothing styles and materials also points to the existence of trade networks and cultural exchanges.

4. **Linguistic Insights**: Some of the mummies were buried with written materials that have provided linguists with valuable data. The texts are among the earliest examples of written languages in the region, including some that are still not fully deciphered, offering potential insights into the origins and development of language in Central Asia.

5. **Diet and Health**: Analysis of the mummies' stomach contents and tissues can provide information about the diet and health of these ancient people. This can help us understand their agricultural practices, the local ecology, and how they may have adapted to their environment.

6. **Genetic Research**: DNA studies on the mummies have the potential to reveal information about genetic links between populations and the movement of peoples across regions in ancient times. This can contribute to our understanding of human evolution and migration patterns.

7. **Conservation and Ethical Considerations**: The discovery and study of the Tarim Basin mummies also raise important questions about the conservation of archaeological remains and the ethical treatment of human remains. It prompts discussions on how to balance scientific research with respect for the dead and the cultural sensitivities of descendant communities.

In summary, the mummified remains found in the Tarim Basin are a window into the past, offering invaluable information about the history, culture, and biological diversity of ancient populations in Central Asia. Their study contributes to our understanding of human history and prehistoric cultural exchanges across vast distances.

Question 2

Shang dynasty settlements are mostly within a few inches of the surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

Which of the following were the largest Harappan cities?

Accepted Answer

A)   Akrotiri and Thera
B)   Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
C)   Knossos and Mycenae
D)   Rizhao and Yanshi B

Question 4

A possible second capital of the Shang Dynasty was __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Banpo
B)   Beijing
C)   Sanxingdui
D)   Pentoushan

Question 5

What is the capital of the Late Shang Dynasty and China's oldest city?

Accepted Answer

A)   Xia
B)   Banpo
C)   Anyang
D)   Beijing

Question 6

A four-tier hierarchy system was inferred for the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Yi Lou Valley
B)   Knossos region
C)   Chifeng area
D)   entire Harappan area

Question 7

Oracle bones recovered from Anyang may represent the very beginning of Chinese writing.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The Harappan civilization developed in the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley in Pakistan.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The Harappan script is known mostly from which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   small stone seals used to mark vessels and bundles
B)   paintings on tomb walls
C)   cylinder seals for authenticating documents
D)   fired clay tablets

Question 10

What characterizes Harappan cities?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What characterizes Harappan cities?...

Question 11

Feasting associated with elite burials and sacrificial deposits are important feature of which sites?

Accepted Answer

A)   Harappan
B)   Mesolithic
C)   Early Indus
D)   Shang Dynasty

Question 12

The prowess of the Harappan state is expressed in __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   compulsory public education
B)   their true egalitarian society
C)   advanced science and mathematics
D)   meticulously planned, urban construction

Question 13

Bronze vessels from Anyang served as politically all-important ritual symbols.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Harappan script has recently been translated and provides a wealth of information concerning trade with Mesopotamia.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Most Harappan settlements were small villages, not urban centers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What evidence is there for social inequality in Harappan society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What evidence is there for social inequality...

Question 17

How has the Three Gorges Dam project threatened Chinese archaeology?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has the Three Gorges Dam project...

Question 18

What is the importance of Anyang to Chinese history?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the importance of Anyang to...

Question 19

Which of these was an important feature for establishing the power of rulers in early Chinese states?

Accepted Answer

A)   religion
B)   ritual
C)   artwork
D)   warfare

Question 20

The emphasis on feasting during the Shang Dynasty indicates an egalitarian social structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 12: Locating the Source of Authority

What is the significance of the mummified remains found in the Tarim Basin?

Shang dynasty settlements are mostly within a few inches of the surface.

Which of the following were the largest Harappan cities?

A possible second capital of the Shang Dynasty was __________.

What is the capital of the Late Shang Dynasty and China's oldest city?

A four-tier hierarchy system was inferred for the __________.

Oracle bones recovered from Anyang may represent the very beginning of Chinese writing.

The Harappan civilization developed in the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley in Pakistan.

The Harappan script is known mostly from which of the following?

What characterizes Harappan cities?

Feasting associated with elite burials and sacrificial deposits are important feature of which sites?

The prowess of the Harappan state is expressed in __________.

Bronze vessels from Anyang served as politically all-important ritual symbols.

The Harappan script has recently been translated and provides a wealth of information concerning trade with Mesopotamia.

Most Harappan settlements were small villages, not urban centers.

What evidence is there for social inequality in Harappan society?

How has the Three Gorges Dam project threatened Chinese archaeology?

What is the importance of Anyang to Chinese history?

Which of these was an important feature for establishing the power of rulers in early Chinese states?

The emphasis on feasting during the Shang Dynasty indicates an egalitarian social structure.