Essay Quiz


1			Why would people settle and build around a river? Think of many reasons that make this a wise location. Discuss how the rivers were useful in the cultures studied. Be sure to name the rivers and the cultures.




2			Compare and contrast the features and purpose of ziggurats, step pyramids, and true pyramids. Explain the role they played in their religious and political traditions.




3			Discuss similarities between Mesopotamian myths and stories in the Bible, specifically a flood, a child abandoned in the reed marshes, and the receiving of laws from a god. Speculate on an explanation for these parallels. Be sure to mention the specific Mesopotamian artforms that tell these stories.




4			When a work of art is not a realistic depiction, it is usually a hint that there is something symbolic or metaphorical going on. With that understanding, describe and interpret the prehistoric female figurine found near Willendorf, Austria.




5			Look at Figure 1.17 of King Menkure and His Chief Queen on page 25 and Figure 1.19 of Family Scene: Pharaoh Akhenaten, Queen Nefertiti, and Their Three Daughters on page 26. Compare and contrast the depictions.