First Civilizations: Cities, States, and Unequal Societies, 3500 B.C.E.

Chapter 2: Considering the Evidence Documents Quiz

Question

1. According to The Epic of Gilgamesh (Document 2.1), which of the following was a trait of an ideal king in Mesopotamia?

An ideal king must be fully divine like a Pharaoh in Egypt.

An ideal king must possess wisdom, knowledge, courage, and physical beauty.

An ideal king must come from abroad in order to rule fairly over local populations split into violent factions.

An ideal king must ensure that the Tigris and Euphrates flooded every year in a predictable way.

Correct. The answer is b. These were all traits that Gilgamesh embodied.

Incorrect. The answer is b. These were all traits that Gilgamesh embodied.

Question

2. Which of the following was a principle of justice that underpinned The Law Code of Hammurabi (Document 2.2)?

Equality under the law was granted to everyone except slaves.

The law code was based on corporal punishments instead of prison sentences or fines.

The accuser was punished if he failed to prove his case against the accused.

The law code was based on corporal punishment and prison sentences but not fines.

Correct. The answer is c. This type of justice is known as double jeopardy.

Incorrect. The answer is c. This type of justice is known as double jeopardy.

Question

3. Which of the following is an important difference between the afterlife in the The Epic of Gilgamesh (Document 2.1) as compared to that in A Pyramid Text (Document 2.3)?

Only in The Epic of Gilgamesh do individuals maintain their social status in the afterlife.

A Pyramid Text describes an afterlife as a house of dust lacking water.

Only in the The Epic of Gilgamesh does god greet the deceased at his or her arrival in the underworld.

A Pyramid Text describes an afterlife that closely replicates life on earth.

Correct. The answer is d. According to A Pyramid Text the pharaoh after his death will maintain his social status and will continue such practices from life as holding monthly and half-monthly feasts.

Incorrect. The answer is d. According to A Pyramid Text the pharaoh after his death will maintain his social status and will continue such practices from life as holding monthly and half-monthly feasts.

Question

4. According to the Book of the Dead (Document 2.4), what must one do in this life to secure eternal life after death?

Obtain great wealth and honors in the service of the Pharaoh.

Avoid wronging others, particularly those of lesser social status.

Give the correct offerings to the gods.

Follow the pharaoh's instructions without question.

Correct. The answer is b. The Negative Confession emphasizes that one must avoid causing suffering to others, wronging the gods or people, or allowing wrongs to take place without interfering.

Incorrect. The answer is b. The Negative Confession emphasizes that one must avoid causing suffering to others, wronging the gods or people, or allowing wrongs to take place without interfering.

Question

5. Which profession in ancient Egypt does the author of Be a Scribe (Document 2.5) identify as the “toughest of all the jobs”?

A pharaoh's soldier

A sailor on the Nile

Outworker in the fields

A washerman

Correct. The answer is c. Outworkers in the field alongside peasants have the toughest jobs according to the author of Be a Scribe.

Incorrect. The answer is c. Outworkers in the field alongside peasants have the toughest jobs according to the author of Be a Scribe.

Question

6. Slavery is a prominent topic in which of the following documents?

Book of the Dead (Document 2.4)

The Epic of Gilgamesh (Document 2.1)

Be a Scribe (Document 2.5)

The Law Code of Hammurabi (Document 2.2)

Correct. The answer is d. Slaves were one important social category in Hammurabi's Law Code.

Incorrect. The answer is d. Slaves were one important social category in Hammurabi's Law Code.

Chapter 2: Considering the Evidence Documents Quiz

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