Environmental Interactions

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AP World History: Modern › Environmental Interactions

Questions 1 - 10
1

At the end of the most recent Ice Age these two continents were cut off from one another, dramatically affecting the course of human history?

Asia and North America

North America and South America

Africa and Europe

Europe and Asia

South America and Africa

Explanation

During the most recent ice age Asia and North America were connected via a land bridge in the Bering Strait. This allowed humans to migrate from Asia to North America and led to human settlement throughout the Americas. The native people of the Americas are all descended from this group of people who crossed the Bering Strait approximately fifteen thousand years ago. When the ice age ended, Asia and North America were no longer connected, thus isolating the Americas from the rest of the world until European colonization in the 1500s.

2

At the end of the most recent Ice Age these two continents were cut off from one another, dramatically affecting the course of human history?

Asia and North America

North America and South America

Africa and Europe

Europe and Asia

South America and Africa

Explanation

During the most recent ice age Asia and North America were connected via a land bridge in the Bering Strait. This allowed humans to migrate from Asia to North America and led to human settlement throughout the Americas. The native people of the Americas are all descended from this group of people who crossed the Bering Strait approximately fifteen thousand years ago. When the ice age ended, Asia and North America were no longer connected, thus isolating the Americas from the rest of the world until European colonization in the 1500s.

3

Which of these best describes the difference between the impact of geography on civilization in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia?

Egypt was geographically isolated giving it protection from invaders, whereas Mesopotamia lacked natural barriers and was under constant threat of invasion

Egypt was well-suited to the development of agriculture, whereas Mesopotamia lacked access to rivers and had a very arid climate

Mesopotamia was geographically isolated giving it protection from invaders, whereas Egypt lacked natural barriers and was under constant threat of invasion

Mesopotamia was well-suited to the development of agriculture, whereas Egypt lacked access to rivers and had a very arid climate

None of these answers are correct; geography affected Egypt and Mesopotamia in very similar ways

Explanation

Ancient Egypt was geographically isolated from other civilizations. It was protected on all sides by either desert, sea, or mountains. Ancient Mesopotamia on the other hand lacked natural barriers of any kind. It lies in a fertile valley that was under constant threat of invasion. Many historians speculate that this intensity of competition in Mesopotamia contributed a great deal to the innovations made by Mesopotamian societies.

4

Which of these best describes the difference between the impact of geography on civilization in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia?

Egypt was geographically isolated giving it protection from invaders, whereas Mesopotamia lacked natural barriers and was under constant threat of invasion

Egypt was well-suited to the development of agriculture, whereas Mesopotamia lacked access to rivers and had a very arid climate

Mesopotamia was geographically isolated giving it protection from invaders, whereas Egypt lacked natural barriers and was under constant threat of invasion

Mesopotamia was well-suited to the development of agriculture, whereas Egypt lacked access to rivers and had a very arid climate

None of these answers are correct; geography affected Egypt and Mesopotamia in very similar ways

Explanation

Ancient Egypt was geographically isolated from other civilizations. It was protected on all sides by either desert, sea, or mountains. Ancient Mesopotamia on the other hand lacked natural barriers of any kind. It lies in a fertile valley that was under constant threat of invasion. Many historians speculate that this intensity of competition in Mesopotamia contributed a great deal to the innovations made by Mesopotamian societies.

5

The state-building efforts of Yu the Great were primarily organized around __________.

preventing the flooding of the Yellow River

universal public education and the establishment of social welfare

Confucian religious tradition

preventing invasion from neighboring barbarian tribes

preventing invasion from neighboring empires

Explanation

Yu the Great founded the Xia Dynasty approximately four thousand years ago. He is a partially mythological figure, it is not known exactly when he lived. His organization of Chinese rural communities, to prevent the flooding of the Yellow River, are primarily responsible for the foundation of the Chinese state. Yu was an innovator and organizer - he implemented a system of irrigation and a system to prevent flooding, and then tirelessly worked to ensure the system was uniformly carried out by local Chinese communities. In so doing he created a communal purpose and identity.

6

The state-building efforts of Yu the Great were primarily organized around __________.

preventing the flooding of the Yellow River

universal public education and the establishment of social welfare

Confucian religious tradition

preventing invasion from neighboring barbarian tribes

preventing invasion from neighboring empires

Explanation

Yu the Great founded the Xia Dynasty approximately four thousand years ago. He is a partially mythological figure, it is not known exactly when he lived. His organization of Chinese rural communities, to prevent the flooding of the Yellow River, are primarily responsible for the foundation of the Chinese state. Yu was an innovator and organizer - he implemented a system of irrigation and a system to prevent flooding, and then tirelessly worked to ensure the system was uniformly carried out by local Chinese communities. In so doing he created a communal purpose and identity.

7

The land between which two rivers is known as Mesopotamia?

Tigris and Euphrates

Ganges and Indus

Nile and Congo

Nile and Ganges

Euphrates and Danube

Explanation

Mesopotamia is translated as “The land between two rivers.” It is also the cradle of civilization, for it is here that the Neolithic Revolution first took place. The two rivers in question are the Tigris and Euphrates.

8

The land between which two rivers is known as Mesopotamia?

Tigris and Euphrates

Ganges and Indus

Nile and Congo

Nile and Ganges

Euphrates and Danube

Explanation

Mesopotamia is translated as “The land between two rivers.” It is also the cradle of civilization, for it is here that the Neolithic Revolution first took place. The two rivers in question are the Tigris and Euphrates.

9

Why did the Mississippian civilization decline?

none of these answers; no-one is sure exactly why the Mississippian civilization declined

as a result of the impact of diseases introduced by European settlers

as a result of massacres committed by European settlers

as a result of the genocidal actions of the nascent American government

as a result of a prolonged famine and drought in the thirteenth century

Explanation

Although it is true that the Mississippian civilization declined in the thirteenth century, we cannot say for sure that it was a result of prolonged famine and drought. No-one knows exactly why the Mississippian civilization declined, but it is certain that it did so long before the arrival of Europeans in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

10

Why did the Mississippian civilization decline?

none of these answers; no-one is sure exactly why the Mississippian civilization declined

as a result of the impact of diseases introduced by European settlers

as a result of massacres committed by European settlers

as a result of the genocidal actions of the nascent American government

as a result of a prolonged famine and drought in the thirteenth century

Explanation

Although it is true that the Mississippian civilization declined in the thirteenth century, we cannot say for sure that it was a result of prolonged famine and drought. No-one knows exactly why the Mississippian civilization declined, but it is certain that it did so long before the arrival of Europeans in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

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