Characteristics of River Valley Civilizations Quick Check
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Question
Use the images to answer the question.
A map of the Mediterranean region to the Pacific Ocean shows the location of four ancient river valley civilizations and the temperature zones surrounding them. The map also indicates mountain regions, bodies of water, and latitude and longitude lines. The entire upper half of the map, starting at approximately 30 degrees north latitude, is a temperate zone. Everything below this is a tropical zone. The river civilizations are along the border of these two zones, within 20 to 40 degrees north latitude. Included in the temperate zone are the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea. Mountains, indicated by inverted Vs, are shown across the area around these three bodies of water. Falling within the tropical zone is the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. Ancient Egypt is an ancient river valley civilization in the tropical zone in the northeast corner of Africa at 30 degrees east longitude. A river flows through Ancient Egypt, and it is bordered to the west by the Sahara Dessert. Mountain ranges run below it down the eastern coast of Africa. Next is Mesopotamia, at approximately 40 degrees east longitude, shown with its northern half in the temperate zone and southern half in the tropical zone. Two rivers run through Mesopotamia, and mountains border the north and east. The Arabian Desert borders on the west. Next is the Indus River Valley Civilizations, from 70 degrees to 90 degrees east longitude, located within the tropical zone. The Himalaya Mountains are to the north, and rivers run across the valley. Ancient China falls within the temperate zone, at 35 to 40 degrees north latitude and between 100 and 120 degrees east longitude. Directly above Ancient China is the Gobi Desert. Above the desert are mountains running from the Himalayas across the continent and northward. Mountains also run south of Ancient China with several rivers running through them. A scale shows 1000 miles and 1000 kilometers.
A map of Africa and Asia shows silk routes and sea routes, along with commodity source locations. A map shows the labeled continents of Africa and Asia, and unlabeled Europe and part of Australia. Labeled bodies of water include the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and East China Sea. A key shows a solid line representing Silk routes, and a dashed line representing Sea routes. Also in the key is the heading Origin of Goods, with four patterned shapes below. A square is labeled Spices; a triangle is labeled Silk; an oval is labeled Cotton, and a diamond is labeled Porcelain. Latitude lines read 60 degrees north to 60 degrees south in 30 degree increments. Longitude lines read zero degrees, 60 degrees east, and 120 degrees east. The solid line representing the Silk route begins in the city of Giaozhou in China, on the East China Sea. A triangle representing silk is present in the area, near 30 degrees north latitude and 120 degrees east longitude. The route travels westward through the Taklamakan Desert to the city of Kashgar, north of the Himalaya Mountains. The route splits, with the north fork going through Samarkand and the south fork to Bactria, meeting up again to end in Baghdad. A dashed line, representing Sea routes, also begins in Giaozhou, and follows the East China Sea coastline south to Guangzhou. A diamond representing porcelain is nearby, just below 30 degrees north latitude. The sea route continues south through the South China Sea and circles around the islands in Southeast Asia. Four squares representing spices appear in this region, all near the equator. From Southeast Asia, the route splits and crosses the Bay of Bengal, as well as hugging the coast all around the bay. The route passes the tip of India and stops at Calicut, where it splits again. One route circles the Arabian Sea coast, passing the Indus River Valley which shows an oval representing cotton, near 30 degrees north latitude and 60 degrees east longitude. This sea route ends near Baghdad. Another route crosses the Arabian Sea from Calicut and stops in Aden, where it splits. One route heads south stopping in Mogadishu and ends in Kilwa on the African east coast. The north route follows the Red Sea and passes the Nile Basin, which shows another oval representing cotton, near 30 degrees north latitude. The route continues to Alexandria on the Mediterranean Sea, from which it heads east near Petra, and also crosses over to Athens, Constantinople, and the Black Sea. Å final sea route goes across the Mediterranean Sea from Antioch to Tangier, with a circle hugging the coast and stopping in Rome and Carthage on the northern African coast. Other labels are the Sahara Desert and Timbuktu. A scale is shows 2000 miles and 2000 kilometers.
Which statement best evaluates the most significant features that promoted the river valley civilizations’ development?
(1 point)
Responses
The most significant features were the consistent flooding and pastoral communities’ production of agricultural goods.
The most significant features were the consistent flooding and pastoral communities’ production of agricultural goods.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to rivers and regional trade routes.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to rivers and regional trade routes.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to seas and temperate climates.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to seas and temperate climates.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to the ocean and desert climates.
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to rivers and regional trade routes.
The correct answer is:
The most significant features that promoted development were the proximity to rivers and regional trade routes.