River Civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere — Problem set, Grade 6

Travel back more than 5,000 years to meet the world's first great civilizations — the cities, god-kings, and inventions that grew up along the rivers of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and ancient China.

Review the key ideas

Mesopotamia & the Fertile Crescent

Mesopotamia names a region associated with the Tigris and Euphrates, not one unchanging state. Sumerian city-states, Akkadian imperial rule and later Babylonian powers belong to different periods. Locate the place and century before combining examples.

Ancient Egypt & the Nile

Upper Egypt is upstream to the south; Lower Egypt includes the northern delta. The Nile flows generally northward. Ancient political and cultural history changed over millennia, so “Egypt” does not mean one unchanging reign or modern nation boundary.

The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus/Harappan civilization included settlements across a large area of present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro are important sites, not interchangeable names for the entire culture. Use modern locations for orientation without imposing modern borders on the past.

Ancient China & the Huang He (Yellow River)

The Huang He/Yellow River was important to northern farming societies, while the Yangtze supported other developments. Early China includes multiple interacting regions rather than one isolated river origin. State the period: Shang and Zhou evidence differs from much earlier farming sites.

Law, Authority & Unequal Status in Early States

A prescription says what should happen under a rule; a record of practice describes a particular action. Hammurabi’s collection expresses royal authority and differentiated social statuses. Earlier law collections existed. Do not call it the first law or assume every surviving clause was enforced identically.

Problem 1

Calculate the remaining amount and explain why neither record proves equal treatment for every inhabitant.
Answer and explanation

Twelve units remain in the simple account. The records describe an allocation and a royal claim, not everyone’s access or enforcement. Compare household and case evidence and identify whose voices are missing.

Twelve units remain in the simple account. The records describe an allocation and a royal claim, not everyone’s access or enforcement. Compare household and case evidence and identify whose voices are missing.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 2

Why distinguish a law from a court record?
Answer and explanation

One prescribes or presents a rule; the other can provide evidence of a particular application.

One prescribes or presents a rule; the other can provide evidence of a particular application.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 3

Correct the labels and explain one limit of a river-only explanation of government.
Answer and explanation

The southern upstream region is Upper Egypt; the northern delta is Lower Egypt. River geography matters, but institutions, labor organization and political history also help explain rule.

The southern upstream region is Upper Egypt; the northern delta is Lower Egypt. River geography matters, but institutions, labor organization and political history also help explain rule.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 4

Why compare elite and nonelite records?
Answer and explanation

To examine different experiences and the biases of preservation.

To examine different experiences and the biases of preservation.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 5

Write a supported inference about coordination and one political/religious claim the evidence cannot settle.
Answer and explanation

Shared weights and infrastructure can support coordination and exchange. They do not identify a named ruler or exact doctrine; the seal’s unread signs cannot supply those words.

Shared weights and infrastructure can support coordination and exchange. They do not identify a named ruler or exact doctrine; the seal’s unread signs cannot supply those words.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 6

Did changed cities necessarily mean every person vanished?
Answer and explanation

No. People and practices can continue or move while urban systems change.

No. People and practices can continue or move while urban systems change.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 7

Distinguish what the source asks from what it proves; name further useful evidence.
Answer and explanation

It records a divination question and the priorities of its elite context, not an assured harvest outcome. Administrative, environmental or later harvest records could help test actual production.

It records a divination question and the priorities of its elite context, not an assured harvest outcome. Administrative, environmental or later harvest records could help test actual production.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 8

Could the same idea support both rule and its replacement?
Answer and explanation

Yes. Claims of moral failure could be used to argue the mandate had shifted.

Yes. Claims of moral failure could be used to argue the mandate had shifted.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 9

Explain what social problem this addresses and why the clause alone does not prove all debts were forgiven forever.
Answer and explanation

It addresses agricultural risk and repayment for a specified failed-harvest year. It does not erase every obligation or show how every case was enforced; consult the exact clause and context.

It addresses agricultural risk and repayment for a specified failed-harvest year. It does not erase every obligation or show how every case was enforced; consult the exact clause and context.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.

Problem 10

Does a written law prove equal protection?
Answer and explanation

No. Its text and application may distinguish people unequally.

No. Its text and application may distinguish people unequally.

Response criteria

  • Answer the actual question with accurate details.
  • Explain how the evidence or language choice supports the conclusion.
  • State a relevant limit, alternative or justified revision.
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