Key Terms



Choose the word that best completes the sentence.



1. Stories passed down by word of mouth are _____.
A. civilization.
B. archeologist.
C. oral traditions.
D. artisan.
2. The _____ was the earliest known period of human culture. Hint
A. Stone Age
B. prehistory
C. domestication
D. irrigation
3. Human ancestors learned how to _____, or tame, animals. Hint
A. farm
B. domesticate
C. irrigate
D. trade
4. Making items such as baskets, jewelry, and pottery is the job of a(n) _____. Hint
A. civilization.
B. archeologist.
C. oral traditions.
D. artisan.
5. A society that has cities, a central government, and specialized workers is a(n) _____. Hint
A. irrigation.
B. civilization.
C. archeologist.
D. oral tradition.
6. _____ is the period of time before writing was developed. Hint
A. Oral tradition
B. Artisan
C. Stone Age
D. Prehistory

Comprehension and Critical Thinking



7 (a). What does history have that prehistory does not? Hint
A. written records
B. artifacts
C. oral traditions
D. remains of campsites
7 (b). How can we learn about human ancestors who lived before written history? Hint
7 (c). Suppose that large, heavy spear points are found at a prehistoric site. What might they tell us about the human ancestors who once lived there? Hint
8 (a). During the Old Stone Age, humans found food by _____. Hint
A. raising animals.
B. planting crops.
C. hunting and gathering.
D. collecting seeds.
8 (b). What characterized the Old Stone Age, the Middle Stone Age, and the New Stone Age? Hint
8 (c). What is the connection between farming and the growth of early cities? Hint
9 (a). Which was NOT a survival skill humans learned throughout the Stone Age? Hint
A. domesticating animals
B. passing on stories in the oral tradition
C. using fire
D. farming
9 (b). How did the discovery of the use of fire affect our human ancestors? Hint
9 (c). What developments allowed early nomads to move from Africa to many parts of the world? Hint
10 (a). Which is NOT an aspect of the earliest cities? Hint
A. a stable government
B. the development of trade
C. people lived in isolation
D. the rise of social classes
10 (b). How did cities benefit from a central government? Hint
10 (c). What was the relationship between government and the social classes of early civilizations? Hint

Skills Practice



11. Using Timelines In the Skills for Life activity in this chapter, you learned how to use a timeline to gain a better understanding of a certain period. You then created your own timeline. Review the steps you follow for this skill and study the timeline between Sections 1 and 2. Reread Chapter 1 looking for events that fit within the timeline span. On a separate piece of paper, redraw the timeline with the additional events. Hint

Writing Activity: Science



12. Form conclusions the way archaeologists do. Choose a place you know well, such as your classroom. Then pick two or three objects found there and make detailed notes on them. What do your notes tell you about the people who use the objects? Hint