SAT II World History : Agriculture

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Gender From Prehistory To 600 Bce

Which of the following was a result of the Neolithic Revolution?

Possible Answers:

Decreased trade

Job specialization

Shortages in the food supply

Equality of gender roles

A decrease in the world population

Correct answer:

Job specialization

Explanation:

The Neolithic revolution was marked by innovations in agriculture. As a result, not all people needed to be farmers; instead, they began to specialize in different jobs. The answer choice "job specialization" is correct.

This period led to an increase in the food supply (rather than shortages), an increase in the world population (not a decrease), and increased trade (rather than decreased). Furthermore, work done outside the home—such as herding—was typically performed by men and began to be valued more highly than work done inside the home, which was typically performed by women, leading to increased gender inequality.

Example Question #1 : Agriculture

The “Fertile Crescent” can be found near __________.

Possible Answers:

the steppes of Central Asia 

the Gangetic Plains of India 

the plains of Northern America

the Tigris and Euphrates rivers 

Lake Baikal in Russia 

Correct answer:

the Tigris and Euphrates rivers 

Explanation:

The “Fertile Crescent” is the name given to the agricultural plains of Ancient Mesopotamia, which are abundant in comparison to the surrounding desert. The land of the “Fertile Crescent” can be found around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in and around modern Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Southern Turkey, and Northern Saudi Arabia. This area's importance to history is that it was the first part of the world that we know of to inspire humanity's adoption of a settled and agricultural life, which in turn lead to the first powerful empires and cultures of the ancient era.

Example Question #2 : Agriculture

The Neolithic Revolution first took place in ________.

Possible Answers:

Ancient Greece 

the Indian subcontinent 

China 

Ancient Rome 

the Middle East 

Correct answer:

the Middle East 

Explanation:

The Neolithic Revolution is the first recognized agricultural revolution in human history. It marked the transition from hunter-gatherer tribes into established and settled agricultural communities - thus allowing for a massive expansion in population, as well as the development of art and culture for the first time in human history. It first occurred in what is known as the “Fertile Crescent” - particularly fertile and abundant lands in Ancient Mesopotamia (now called The Middle East). Historical sources vary, but most scholars agree that the Neolithic Revolution began around 12,000-10,000 B.C.E. and had resulted in complicated societies (like the Sumerians) by 5,500 B.C.E.  

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