Question 1

The Sumerians were the first people of the ancient world to accomplish which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  achieve naturalism in life-size sculpture 
B)  conquer the Greek city-states 
C)  develop forms of writing 
D)  construct bronze weapons

Question 2

What ancient sacred text contains an account of the mythic battle between Marduk and Tiamat, gods of the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians?

Accepted Answer

A)  Vedas 
B)  Enuma elish 
C)  Hymn to Aten 
D)  Epic of Gilgamesh

Question 3

The first great cities of the ancient world arose in what region?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mesopotamia 
B)  Yellow River valley 
C)  Nile River valley 
D)  central Europe

Question 4

The prayers and hymns of the Vedas were the creation of what ancient civilization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Indian 
B)  Andean 
C)  Egyptian 
D)  Persian

Question 5

Identify three major artistic or philosophical achievements of early Asian civilizations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify three major artistic or philosophical achievements...

Question 6

At which of these sites did archaeologists find ancient and remarkable prehistoric cave paintings?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ur-Nammu and Persepolis 
B)  Stonehenge and Göbekli Tepe 
C)  Lascaux and Chauvet 
D)  Karnak and Luxor

Question 7

The term megalith is properly applied to what work of the ancient world?

Accepted Answer

A)  tomb of Nefertari 
B)  Stonehenge 
C)  pyramids at Giza 
D)  Woman from Willendorf

Question 8

Much of ancient religion and mythic belief concerned itself with death and the life beyond death. Illustrate ancient beliefs about death with examples drawn from several different ancient civilizations. Briefly compare these ancient beliefs with beliefs and customs today.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Much of ancient religion and mythic belief...

Question 9

What topic or term would be most useful in discussing the epic tale of Gilgamesh, whose heroic life culminates in a search for immortality?

Accepted Answer

A)  cuneiform 
B)  polytheism 
C)  megalith 
D)  sacred kingship

Question 10

Which of these structures is associated with the singular rule of Akhenaten, the unorthodox Egyptian pharaoh?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stonehenge 
B)  caves of Lascaux 
C)  ziggurat of Ur-Nammu 
D)  temple of Amarna

Question 11

In which of these civilizations or sites would one expect to find a mythic tiger carved of precious jade?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shang 
B)  Babylon 
C)  Lascaux 
D)  Amarna

Question 12

Which statement best describes the bull's head lyre found in an ancient Sumerian site?

Accepted Answer

A)  constructed of gold and lapis lazuli 
B)  buried in a royal tomb with its owner 
C)  inscribed with royal laws and decrees 
D)  shaped of fired clay and painted in red

Question 13

Hammurabi's Code would be most relevant to a discussion of what topic in the development of ancient civilization?

Accepted Answer

A)  the transmission of secret knowledge or "mysteries" 
B)  the sculptural representation of the human form 
C)  the development of ancient legal systems 
D)  the worship of an ancient Mother Goddess

Question 14

Which of these structures functioned as an elaborate tomb for god-like rulers?

Accepted Answer

A)  pyramid at Giza 
B)  Stonehenge 
C)  ziggurat of Ur-Nammu 
D)  Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro

Question 15

In which of these would one expect to encounter a depiction of the exploits of Gilgamesh?

Accepted Answer

A)  painted inside an Egyptian tomb 
B)  carved on a megalithic structure 
C)  decorating a Shang dynasty bronze bell 
D)  described in a Mesopotamian epic

Question 16

What term would be most useful in explaining the period of rapid cultural progress when humans learned to make stone tools, sew clothes, and paint the walls of rock caves?

Accepted Answer

A)  epic 
B)  Upper Paleolithic 
C)  archetype 
D)  cuneiform

Exam 1: The Ancient World