6th Grade Social Studies Benchmark

Name________________________________________

1. How did innovations such as irrigation, aqueducts, and improved farm techniques transform
civilizations?
a. Innovations made it possible to expand settlements at arid locations.
b. Innovations increased the numbers of hunters and gatherers.
c. Innovations required smaller herds and less livestock.
d. Innovations decreased the size of cities

2. Legalism: belief that leaders should rule with force

Confucianism: The ruler bears responsibility for the well-being of the people and, therefore, for
peace and order in the empire.

Chinese leaders moved from a legalistic government to a government based on Confucianism.

How did Confucius transform the society?
a. Government leaders became concerned with the condition of China’s citizens.
b. Military leaders became more important than educators and priests.
c. Farmers became less dependent on government subsidies and support.
d. Merchants became concerned with the economic issues affecting China’s citizens

3. How did technology change communication in the late thirteenth century?

a. It helped all citizens learn to read
b. It allowed people to quickly contact others around the world
c. It enabled people to get information about other places and ideas
d. It helped people improve the living conditions in other societies

4. Exploration and conquests occurred in the Middle Ages. How did they affect relations between
ancient societies?
a. They caused long-lasting peace with the help of religion
b. They caused empires to close off access between their societies
c. They caused outbreaks of violence that closed all trade routes
d. They caused trade routes and communication to open between societies
Use the chart below to answer the question below.

Ancient Olympics Modern Olympics

 Held in Olympia, Greece
 Were held in honor of the god Zeus but
were not religious events
 Only allowed male participants
 Were competitions between Greek city-
states
 Winners were awarded olive-leaf wreaths
and medals
 Held in cities all over the world
 Allow both male and female participants
 Are competitions between different
countries
 Are not religious events
 Winners are awarded medals

5. The modern Olympic Games come from the ancient Olympics in Greece. Which statement
correctly compares the ancient games and the modern games?
a. The Olympics still honor Zeus, but now winners are awarded medals
b. The Olympics are still an athletic competition, but now both men and women
participate
c. The Olympics are still held in Greece, but now the modern Olympic games are not
religious events
d. The Olympics still only allow men to participate, but now athletes from all over the
world can participate

In 711 CE, the Moors invaded Spain and established Islamic rule. During this period, philosophy,
mathematics, and science flourished in the nation. For instance, Ibn Zuhr, a physician and surgeon,
tested medical procedures on animals before using them on humans. His work was translated into Latin
and Hebrew and had a significant impact on the medical field. Spain remained closely connected to
Baghdad for 200 years before becoming independent. Spain was one of the wealthiest areas of Europe
during the period of Moorish rule.

6. Based on the above passage, how did the Moorish invasion of Spain affect civilization in the
region?
a. It forbade the advancement of philosophy and emphasized religion.
b. It led to the development of new scientific and mathematical techniques.
c. It created an isolated area of economic development and trade.
d. It transformed Spain into a society primarily concerned with military power.

7. How were the oldest civilizations in Central and South America similar?
a. They were large, but not well-organized
b. They established extensive trade with Pacific Rim Nations
c. They were strongly influenced by Asian and African civilizations
d. They were the first to develop advanced societies in the area
 8. The mountains of South America made farmland difficult to find. How did ancient people adapt
to this?
a. They used terraced farming
b. They grew crops in the valleys
c. They used large farm animals to plow
d. They moved to a new area each growing season

9. Which statement shows how trade routes influenced ancient societies?

a. As travel over land became easier, trade by water became unnecessary
b. As different civilizations traded goods, they also shared cultural values and beliefs
c. As trade developed, long-distance travel became safe and easy for each civilization
d. As silk grew popular, it became a common material used in clothing across civilizations

10. Societies adapted to their surroundings by irrigating and building dams. Why did they need to
use these techniques?
a. To decrease the overcrowding of crops
b. To increase space for people to live
c. To decrease the numbers of animals on the land
d. To increase their farmland for growing crops

Hammurabi was the king of Babylon from 1792 BCE to 1750 BCE. Hammurabi wrote The Code of
Hammurabi, the oldest set of laws known to exist, which was made up of 282 laws. The code was carved
in stone for all to see and read.

Facts about The Code of Hammurabi

• This was the first written code—people could see it. This increased people’s ability to read.
• The code treated women fairly.
• The harsh punishments made civilizations safer.
• The code reinforced class structure—punishments were different for the different classes.

11. Based on the above information, how did Hammurabi help to transform society?
a. His laws got rid of the existing class system
b. He required that every class be punished equally
c. He continued the practice of treating women differently from men
d. His laws were written to include women
Use the bulleted information below to answer question 12

 Trade routes linking West Africa and North Africa required the shipment of goods across the
hot, dry Sahara Desert. It was difficult for the traders to carry these goods along these trade
routes.
 Domesticated camels were brought to the Sahara. The camels could go for long stretches
without drinking, survive extreme temperatures, and haul heavy loads.

12. How did the camels affect the transport of goods across the Sahara Desert?
a. Traders were able to use camels to stop trans-Saharan shipments of goods
b. Traders were able to drink the milk from camels during their journey
c. Camels made travel across the desert more reliable and safer
d. Camels slowed transport by requiring frequent drinks of water

Findings from Ancient Burial Sites: (Source: Internet Ancient History Sourcebook, Fordham University)

 About 8,000 life-size, terra-cotta clay soldiers were found about one mile east of the first
emperor of China’s tomb
 Tombs in Egypt were found with tools, make-up, and clothing

13. Based on the facts above, how were beliefs of these societies similar?
a. The rulers of ancient civilizations were buried in pyramids
b. Ancient people across civilizations did not appreciate the arts
c. The rulers of ancient civilizations appeared modest of humble in death
d. Ancient people across civilizations believed in preparing for life after death

14. How did the economic factors listed below affect the ancient empires?

Ancient Empire Economic Issues:

 Poor management by leaders
 Hoarding of wealth
 Too much debt
a. Empires weakened and were eventually destroyed
b. Empires forced wealthy citizens to forfeit money in taxes
c. Armies searched other empires for new leaders to govern
d. Armies of the empires were sent to other lands to increase wealth
 15. Why did trading networks like the Silk Road develop?
a. Certain resources were not available in all areas
b. The trails were used for communication between groups
c. People wanted to take land and to keep control of that land
d. Travelers enjoyed exploring nearby lands after trading for spices

Timeline of Legal Codes

1700 BCE : Hammurabi’s code in Babylon created strict laws and punishments

550 BCE : Solon’s code in Greece created less strict laws and punishments

1215 CE : Magna Carta in England limits a king’s power and protects citizens’ rights

16. How has the role of legal codes evolved through time in human societies?
a. Laws have become stricter over time
b. Legal codes have been based on religious beliefs
c. Governments have never supported the rights of citizens
d. Legal codes have gradually given more protections to citizens.

17. Why did some ancient civilizations write and publish their laws?
a. To allow patricians and plebeians to read and vote for the laws
b. To record the laws so that historians would understand ancient culture
c. To ensure that citizens of the civilization would read and understand the laws
d. To guarantee that each politician received a personal copy of the printed laws

18. Which is likely the purpose of the following ancient proverb : Babylonian Proverb, 1600 BC –
“If you go and take the field of an enemy, the enemy will come and take your field.”
a. To encourage people to tend to their fields
b. To discourage people from fighting in wars
c. To encourage people to obey government laws
d. To discourage people from defending their land

19. In feudal Japan, the main role of the peasants was to do what?
a. Preserve tradition
b. Defend the nation
c. Produce the food supply
d. Manufacture trade groups
20. Who was the ancient Babylonian king who created the earliest known code of laws which
focused on harsh punishments to keep order in society?
a. Sargon
b. Hammurabi
c. Eannatum
d. Nebuchadnezzar

21. Why did ancient civilizations develop in Mesopotamia along the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates?
a. The rivers aided in the exploration of new territories
b. The rivers provided power for industries
c. The river valleys provided areas for recreation
d. The rivers provided a source of fresh water and good farmland

22. Which statement best explains why the ancient Egyptians were buried with their prized
possessions?
a. They wanted their possessions to be preserved for centuries
b. They wanted their possessions to help identify them
c. They wanted their possessions to be available to them in the afterlife
d. They wanted their possessions for future historians to study

I will sing of well-founded Earth,

Mother of all, eldest of all beings.
She feeds all creatures that are in the world,
All that go upon the goodly land,
And all that are in the paths of the seas, And all that fly: all these are fed of her store.
Through you, O queen, men are blessed in their children
And blessed in their harvests,
And to you it belongs to give means of life
To mortal men and to take it away.

Excerpt from Homeric Hymn “To Earth Mother of All”

Translated by H.G. Evelyn-White

23. Which value of Greek civilization is reflected in this hymn?

a. The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses were involved in natural events
b. The Greeks believed that humans became gods and goddesses after death
c. The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses were at war with humans
d. The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses needed sacrifices offered by humans to
stay alive
24. Which statement best explains the list below?

Order of Ruling Powers in Ancient Greece

1. Monarchy
2. Oligarchy
3. Tyranny
4. Democracy

a. Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being governed by their citizens to being
ruled by a king
b. Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being ruled by nobility to being governed by
their citizens
c. Some city-states or Ancient Greece went from being ruled by military leaders to being
governed by the upper class
d. Some city-states of Ancient Greece went from being ruled by rich merchants to being
governed by men of nobility

25. How did early Christianity spread around the world?

a. Missionaries followed conquerors and colonists
b. Bibles were published in all languages
c. Christian sea captains sold fares to other Christians
d. European monarchs practiced their religion when they traveled

26. Which type of social structure divided its citizens as shown below?

Social Classes
King or Monarch
Lord or Noble
Knight or Warrior
Serf or Peasant

a. Socialism
b. Feudalism
c. Matrilinealism
d. Caste System

27. Which was a long-term effect of ancient trade routes?

a. The spread of religions throughout the trade routes
b. The spread of unifying systems of government
c. Colonization of weaker nations along the trade routes
d. Use of silk throughout ancient and modern societies
 28. The Egyptians had many myths about the world. Use the excerpt below to answer the following
question. How did this myth reflect their values and beliefs about civilizations?

Egyptian Myth of the Creation of the World

I am he who came into being in the form of the god Khepera . . . I am the creator of everything
which came into being: now the things which I created, and which came forth out of my mouth after
that I had come into being myself were exceedingly many. The sky (or heaven) had not come into being,
the earth did not exist, and the children of the earth, and the creeping things, had not been made at
that time. I raised them up out of Nu . . .

a. They told about the past leaders of Egyptian society

b. They told about the gods and goddesses that they worshipped
c. They told about the military battles of the past Egyptian armies
d. They told about the great pharaohs from the three great kingdoms

Use the chart below to answer question 29

Requirements and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Athens Sparta
 Elected officials  Two Kings
Government  Council of 500  Five overseers
 The assembly  The council or Senate
 Males only  Males only

Military Navy Army

 Boys: reading, writing,
math, music, poetry,
sports
Education  Girls: spinning, weaving,
and other domestic
skills
 Luxurious lifestyle
Lifestyle and Values  Valued participation in
government
 Boys: primarily trained
in the art of warfare
from age 7, lived in
military barracks even
after they were married
 Girls: reading, writing,
sports, and survival
skills
 Simple lifestyle
 Valued military
dominance

29. How was being a citizen of Sparta different from being a citizen of Athens?
a. Spartans were expected to honor their city through creative, artistic expression
b. Spartans were expected to be educated, so they could participate in government
c. Spartans were expected to display the riches of Greece through grand homes and feasts
d. Spartans were expected to protect their city through military service and physical
strength
 30. Which statement explains changes in government from absolute monarchy to constitutional
monarch?
a. Kings and queens wished to maintain authority and control
b. The divine right of kings to rule was reinforced
c. Citizens wanted a stronger voice in their government
d. The power of feudal lords was affirmed

31. How did ancient societies change their environment to bring water into cities?
a. Abacus
b. Aqueducts
c. Sundials
d. Columns

32. The Magna Carta was important because it did what?

a. Set up Parliament
b. Created a system of courts
c. Guaranteed freedom of the press
d. Limited the taxing power of the king

The Roman Forum

The Roman forum was located at the center of Ancient Rome. It was a gathering place where public
events were held. Soon the forum grew to also include merchant shops, temples, and government
buildings. The forum became the religious, economic, and government center for Rome.

33. Based on the above information, how did the forum contribute to Roman civilization?
a. Instead of being solely focused on commerce, the forum also fulfilled cultural needs of
the Romans
b. The forum provided cheaper prices for Romans than other markets
c. Government buildings were the focus of the forum, showcasing the power of the Roman
government
d. Forum ruins still can be found today, because they were so well built
As restrictions and prohibitions are multiplied in the Empire, the people grow poorer and poorer. When
the people are subjected to overmuch government, the land is thrown into confusion. . . . The greater
the number of laws and enactments, the more thieves and robbers there will be. Therefore the Sage
says: “So long as I do nothing, the people will work out their own reformation. So long as I love calm, the
people will right themselves. If only I keep from meddling, the people will grow rich. If only I am free
from desire, the people will come naturally back to simplicity.
” The Sayings of Lao-Tzu: “Government” Translated by Lionel Giles, 1904

34. What were Lao-Tzu’s views on government?

a. Lao-Tzu thought that people were naturally evil and needed many laws to govern their
behavior
b. Lao-Tzu advocated for limited government involvement in people’s everyday lives
c. Lao-Tzu believed that only people from the upper class were fit to govern
d. Lao-Tzu felt that regulations on trade would lead to more people becoming rich

35. How did innovations that developed over time—such as writing, trade routes, schools, and the
printing press—affect societies?
a. They increased the spreading of ideas
b. They reduced the construction of buildings
c. They limited contact between peoples
d. They lowered literacy rates

36. Alexander the Great’s conquest of Greece, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Persia led to what?
a. Spread of Hellenistic culture
b. Adoption of a feudal system
c. Establishment of representative democracy
d. Spread of Islamic culture throughout Europe

The Chinese civilization began along the Yellow River basin around 1700 BCE and soon spread along
other rivers in China. Yellow River floods enriched the surrounding soils, allowing farmers to produce
surplus crops and domesticate animals. Yellow River floods often destroyed early settlements and
ruined crop production for years.

37. How did geography affect the development of Chinese civilization?

a. The growth of Chinese civilization depended on the Yellow River, but the Yellow River
also brought suffering to Chinese people
b. The growth of Chinese civilization was slowed by the Yellow River and it only flourished
when people moved away from rivers
c. The natural resources of China encouraged Chinese people to build massive public
works projects to benefit the poor
d. The natural resources of China encouraged Chinese farmers to create artificial rivers,
like the Yellow River, where they could produce crops.
38. An absolute monarchy is a type of government structure. Which of the statements describes
this type of structure?
a. The citizens have an equal say in their government
b. The citizens elect representatives to run the government
c. The ruler has complete power over the citizens or inhabitants
d. The ruler has control of the government, but citizens have rights

39. Kings wanted to control decision making in their governments. How did this desire affect the
structures of governments?
a. Governments became constitutional monarchies when the king or queen shared the
power with a legislative council
b. Governments became hereditary monarchies when kings and queens transferred power
to their children
c. Governments became absolute monarchies when the king or queen held all power in
their hands
d. Governments became elected monarchies when kings or queens were elected by the
people

40. How can you define the concept of monotheism?

a. Belief in one god
b. Belief in more than one god
c. Belief in spirits inhabiting nature
d. Belief in no gods

41. Geographers often ask which question?

a. When did it happen?
b. How much will it cost?
c. What makes humans act that way?
d. Why do people live there?

42. The spread of Islam from its origins in Arabia outward across North Africa and the Middle East
would be classified as what kind of diffusion?
a. Migratory
b. Environmental
c. Cultural
d. Relocation
43. Important long-term contributions of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations are primarily found
in the area of?
a. Military Technology
b. Religious Doctrine
c. Economic policy and planning
d. Government and law

44. Three of the four earliest civilizations originated on which continent?

a. Europe
b. Africa
c. Asia
d. Australia

45. All of the earliest civilizations developed near which of the following geographic feature?
a. Mountains
b. Rivers
c. Deserts
d. Peninsulas

46. The Neolithic Era began with what discovery?

a. Metal tools
b. Stone tools
c. Hunting
d. Farming

47. What are non-renewable resources?

a. Living things, such as fish or forests
b. Things that cannot be replaced by any natural processes within our lifetime
c. Resources that have reached maximum exploitation yields
d. Things that were unrecognized by the early settlers

48. Muhammad’s teachings and the writings of the Qur’an became part of which religion?
a. Christianity
b. Islam
c. Hinduism
d. Judaism