Ancient Sumerian Medicine and Farming Practices Quiz

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Why did Mesopotamians develop mathematical astronomy?

To communicate with other civilizations

To coordinate their observations of celestial bodies (correct)

To predict natural disasters on earth

To enhance their knowledge of ancient languages

What motivated Babylonia's interest in astronomy?

A curiosity about the unknown

A belief in an intimate connection between celestial and terrestrial regions (correct)

A need to explore other planets

A desire to control the weather

What was the purpose of the towers known as 'ziggurats' in Mesopotamia?

They were ancient libraries

They served as both temples for worship and astronomical observatories (correct)

They were military watchtowers

They were centers for political gatherings

What was the significance of eclipses in Babylonian beliefs?

They were interpreted as signs of important future events on earth Signup and view all the answers

When did the Babylonian mathematical texts containing 'multiplication' and 'division' tables originate?

Around 1800 BC in the Old Babylonian period Signup and view all the answers

What was invented during the Seleucid period in Babylonian mathematical texts?

'Zero' Signup and view all the answers

What mathematical concept did Babylonians develop for the calculation of compound interest?

Cubic equations Signup and view all the answers

Which system, adopted by the Greeks and Hindus, was used in the development of mathematical astronomy?

Sexagesimal system Signup and view all the answers

What is defined by its place in the number according to Babylonian mathematics?

Value of a symbol Signup and view all the answers

Which theorem were Babylonians familiar with that deals with right-angle triangles?

$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$ Signup and view all the answers

What kind of problems in geometry did Babylonians work on?

Finding radius of a circle circumscribing an isosceles triangle Signup and view all the answers

Which mathematical notation introduced by Babylonians impacted the modern world's division of circles and hours?

'Place-value notation' Signup and view all the answers

According to Herodotus, which civilization invented the gnomon?

The Babylonians Signup and view all the answers

What did Herodotus attribute to the Egyptians regarding the solar year?

They discovered the solar year and divided it into 12 parts. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Greeks believe about the origin of their knowledge of geometry?

They learned it from the Egyptians. Signup and view all the answers

Why might the Egyptians have needed advanced knowledge of geometry?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT attributed to the Egyptians by Herodotus?

Inventing the gnomon Signup and view all the answers

What did the Greeks likely find impressive about Egyptian monuments?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What were the basic materials the Sumerian doctor used to make his medicines?

Herbal, animal, and mineral sources Signup and view all the answers

What did the handbook for the Sumerian farmer contain instructions for?

Obtaining good crops, daily activities, irrigation, and soil preparation Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome when the Sumerian gardener planted mighty trees to provide shade?

The garden was filled with all shades of green Signup and view all the answers

According to Sumerian writings, which of the following were considered repugnant?

Evil, lie, lawlessness, injustice, and cruelty Signup and view all the answers

What did the Sumerian people believe formed the cosmic mountain from the combination of the sky and earth?

A primordial sea Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following Sumerian ethical ideals were greatly valued according to their writings?

Both a and b Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the geometrical knowledge possessed by the ancient Egyptians?

To compute the areas of basic geometric shapes Signup and view all the answers

What was the value of that the Egyptians used in their geometrical calculations?

3.16 Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, in what area did the Egyptians have the greatest influence on Greek astronomy?

The use of their civil calendar system Signup and view all the answers

What was the structure of the Egyptian civil calendar described in the passage?

12 months of 30 days each, with 5 additional days at the end of the year Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage suggest about the level of Egyptian astronomy compared to the Hellenistic astronomy?

Egyptian astronomy remained on a crude level and had little influence on the rapidly growing Hellenistic astronomy. Signup and view all the answers