Download Text of Shipwreck: An Ancient Sea Trade Game

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Beyond Babylon Online Teacher Workshop: Classroom Activities
January 22–March 1, 2009
TEXT OF “SHIPWRECK: AN ANCIENT SEA TRADE GAME”
Jordis Rosberg, teacher
“In designing the questions for “Shipwreck,” I tried to work within a few sets of parameters.
First of all, while 5th grade is our target age, we wanted this game to be accessible and
enjoyable for a range of children. In order to do this, I tried to vary the difficulty level of the
questions. I did not want to frame the questions in such a way as to limit accessibility based
on reading comprehension. Secondly, we wanted to make this game something children with
a range of experience in the subject could play and enjoy. I tried to design questions that I
hoped children would feel confident tackling, even if the content were brand new and they
were experiencing that rush of excitement that often accompanies the playing of a game. We
hope teachers feel they could use this as a hook for their students at the beginning of a study,
as well as in the middle or as part of the culmination of a study, when their students would,
presumably, discover how much they know. Lastly, in our meetings we discussed pacing and
attention. We want students to learn from the game, but also to enjoy it. We wanted to build
in a range of speeds so that children could play it on many levels—an exciting round or a
focused examination. This latter ‘speed’ could be mandated by a teacher with an
accompanying ‘trip sheet’ for a ‘captain’ to complete, along with answering the questions in
the game.” [JR]
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/shipwreck/index.html
Text for “Play the game” Level I of Shipwreck
(Note: Level I can be used independently of the shipbuilding activity by freely exploring the
pins on the map. Close the question panel by clicking the “?” tab.)
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea extends north from the Mediterranean, with Greece to the west and the
Anatolian peninsula to the east. With more than 1,400 islands and encompassing parts of the
mainland, many important civilizations call this sea home. Among these are the Minoans
from the island of Crete and the Mycenaeans of the Greek mainland. Both of these
civilizations are important Mediterranean traders. Mycenaean and Minoan goods are shipped
out from the Aegean to places as far-flung as Spain and Canaan.
Which important Mediterranean traders call the Aegean Sea home?
(A) The Spanish and the Canaanites.
(B) The Minoan and the Mycenaean.
(C) The Greek and the Anatolian.
[Answer=B]
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Anatolia
The name Anatolia comes from the Greek, meaning "land of the sunrise," or "the east."
Lying to the east of Greece, Anatolia is a large peninsula bordered by the Black, Aegean, and
Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Asian mainland. Anatolia is very mountainous, with rivers
and high plateaus scattered throughout. It has many different regions and is therefore home to
a number of civilizations, such as the Arzawa and the Hittites.
Why do the Greeks call Anatolia "land of the sunrise"?
(A) It is very mountainous and crisscrossed with rivers and plateaus.
(B) It lies to the east of Greece, and the sun rises in the east.
(C) It is home to the Arzawa and the Hittites, among others.
[Answer=B]
Black Sea
The Black Sea is one of the youngest inland (surrounded by land), saltwater seas on the
planet. It is bordered by Europe on its west coast and Asia on its east coast. A narrow channel
called a strait links it to the Aegean Sea and, through the Aegean, to the Mediterranean Sea.
Because of its location between Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean, it is crisscrossed by
trade routes. Copper ingots are just one example of the valuable items carried on cargo ships
that travel the waters of the Black Sea.
What makes the Black Sea useful for traders?
(A) It links Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean Sea.
(B) It is a long, narrow, and mountainous island.
(C) It is an inland sea, which means it is surrounded by land.
[Answer=A]
Crete
A long, narrow, and mountainous island in the Mediterranean Sea, Crete is home to the
Minoans. Crete is blessed with fertile land and a temperate climate, which makes it easy to
grow crops and produce goods that are desirable to other nations. Also, Crete's central
location in the Mediterranean places it within easy reach of major trade routes. Because of
these two factors, the Minoans are able to engage in brisk trade with peoples such as the
Egyptians and Mesopotamians, exchanging their cloth, timber, olive oil, and pottery for
goods such as tin, copper, and ivory.
Aside from its central location, what other factor makes Crete a good island for trade?
(A) Its fertile and temperate climate means it is rich in trade goods, such as timber and olive
oil.
(B) It is a long, narrow, and mountainous island.
(C) It is home to the Minoans, who are brisk traders.
[Answer=A]
Eshnunna
Eshnunna is a Mesopotamian city on the Tigris River. It is an important city because it sits on
a major trade route between Central Asia and the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Tin is
one of the most important goods that passes through Eshnunna from Central Asia on its way
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to the sea. When combined with copper, tin makes the valuable metal bronze, and is therefore
highly prized by traders like you.
Why is Eshnunna an important city?
(A) It sits on the Tigris River and has a source of fresh water.
(B) It is a part of Mesopotamian civilization.
(C) It is located along a trade route that transports valuable tin to the Mediterranean.
[Answer=C]
Kommos
Kommos is a busy port city on the southern coast of Crete. The Minoans, who built
Kommos, are active participants in Mediterranean trade, and ships carrying goods from
places as widespread as Egypt, Anatolia, and Canaan frequently sail into the city's harbor. In
fact, so many merchant ships anchor in Kommos that the city has built a huge structure with
long slips inside of it designed to shelter ships during the winter months. You have spent a
few rainy winter months there yourself.
Why did Kommos build a place to house merchant ships?
(A) Many merchant ships trade in Kommos, and need a place to shelter in the winter.
(B) Kommos lies on the southern coast of Crete.
(C) Many merchant ships trade in Kommos, and need a place to shelter in the summer.
[Answer=A]
Mari
An early Syrian settlement, Mari lies on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Although it
has a close relationship with Mesopotamia, Mari is nearer to the Mediterranean Sea. This,
plus its location along the river, makes it an ideal trading stop for merchants carrying goods
between the coast and inland cities. Mari plays a role in the lucrative business of trade and is
a major distribution center for tin. It is a successful city with an organized government and a
major temple dedicated to Ishtar, the goddess of love and war.
Why is Mari such a successful city?
(A) It has a major temple to the goddess Ishtar.
(B) It is located on the Euphrates River between central Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean
Sea.
(C) It was one of the earliest Syrian settlements.
[Answer=B]
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a very large sea, almost entirely surrounded by land. It joins
Europe, Asia, and Africa, encouraging the exchange of goods and ideas between the coastal
cultures of these three continents. The region's climate is mild, with hot, dry summers, and
cool, rainy winters. For these reasons, it is home to many major civilizations, including the
Mycenaeans, Minoans, Egyptians, Canaanites, and the later Phoenicians (1500-300 B.C.).
These nations trade and war with one another, using the Mediterranean Sea as their highway.
Why are so many important civilizations from the Mediterranean region?
(A) The weather is mild, making it easy to grow crops, travel, and generally survive.
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(B) The sea's central location allows for easy exchange of goods and ideas from place to
place.
(C) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Nile River
The Nile River is the longest river in the world. It flows through Africa from south to north,
and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It floods every year, turning the land along its banks
into fertile ground. This allows the Egyptians who live along it to grow crops and survive in
the desert that surrounds the river. It also provides an easy way to transport goods from one
place to another. The Nile is so important to the Egyptians, in fact, that Egypt has been called
"the gift of the Nile."
Why is Egypt called "the gift of the Nile"?
(A) The Nile is the longest river in the world.
(B) The Nile provides the water for crops and the easy transportation that has made Egypt a
successful nation.
(C) The Nile flows through Africa from south to north.
[Answer=B]
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run from the Taurus Mountains, through Mesopotamia
(Greek for the "land between two rivers"), and out into the Persian Gulf. These rivers, with
their plentiful fresh water, make the valley through which they run very fertile, leading to
abundant food sources; the first cities to exist in the world were in this region. It is because of
this that the land around these two rivers has come to be known as the "cradle of
civilization."
Why do we call the land surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers the "cradle of
civilization"?
(A) The first cities were built here because there was enough food and water to support many
people.
(B) They run from the Taurus Mountains and empty into the Persian Gulf.
(C) Mesopotamia is a Greek name, meaning the "land between two rivers."
[Answer=A]
Arzawa
Arzawa is a kingdom in western Anatolia (Turkey). The powerful enemy of the Arzawans,
the Hittites, neighbor them to the east. The Arzawans have so far been successful at keeping
the Hittites out of their territory, but you aren't sure how long they will be able to keep them
at bay. You will be heading to Arzawa's capital city, Ka»ô, a port on the Mediterranean coast
and a great place to trade on your way from Cyprus to Crete. The Arzawans' chief deity is the
storm god, Tarhun, and you always think of this as you pray to your own gods for fair
weather on your voyage.
What threatens the future of the Arzawa kingdom?
(A) Their storm god, Tarhun.
(B) Their powerful neighbors, the Hittites.
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(C) Their location between Cyprus and Crete.
[Answer=B]
Assyria
By the mid-fourteenth century B.C., the Assyrians are the dominant power in northern
Mesopotamia. They are known for expanding the territory of Mesopotamia under their rule
all the way to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. They are also talented builders and
scholars, and their later capitals at Nineveh and Nimrud are home to some of the grandest
palaces, most imposing temples, and largest libraries ever seen.
The Assyrians are famous for what accomplishments?
(A) Living along the Mediterranean coast.
(B) Being the dominant power in Mesopotamia around 3500 B.C.
(C) Expanding Mesopotamian territory and building magnificent cities.
[Answer=C]
Babylon
The Mesopotamian city of Babylon had been a sophisticated and powerful city in the 1700s
B.C. under the rule of Hammurabi, who wrote the world's first code of law. However, the
city was eventually conquered, and was not returned to its former glory until the famed king
Nebuchadnezzar II defeated the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar has transformed Babylon into
the most glorious city of the day, with gold-encrusted palaces and the terraced Hanging
Gardens of Babylon, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Why is the city of Babylon so famous?
(A) It was home to the world's first laws.
(B) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built there, and became one of the Seven
Wonders of the World.
(C) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Hittites
Around 1650 B.C., the Hittites ventured forth from their home in the high plateaus of the
Anatolian peninsula with the aim of expanding their empire. Famously fierce warriors, they
proceeded to spread east and south into Syria and the Levant, and Cyprus. The Hittites are
inventive and technologically advanced, and you have heard that they even use wheeled war
chariots and iron weapons in battle! They are much feared and are constantly engaging other
nations in power struggles. So far, they have clashed with the Egyptians, the Mittani, and the
Kassites, to name but a few of their enemies.
Why are the Hittite warriors so feared?
(A) They are fierce and technologically advanced.
(B) Their homeland is in the plateaus of the Anatolian peninsula.
(C) Their enemies include the Egyptians, the Mittani, and the Kassites.
[Answer=A]
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Kassites
After the warlike Hittites conquered Babylon, the Kassites came down from their homeland
in the Zagros Mountains and, in turn, took Babylon from the Hittites! It was a fierce and
definitive win, and the Kassites have since turned Babylon back into an international power.
In fact, on your voyage, you will be carrying diplomatic letters (in the form of clay tablets)
from the Kassite king Kadashman-Enlil I to Amenhotep III, the pharaoh of Egypt.
The Kassites are the rulers of what region?
(A) Anatolia
(B) Egypt
(C) Babylonia
[Answer=C]
Knossos
Knossos is the capital of Minoan Crete. The grand, enormous palace at Knossos has over one
thousand rooms and is home to everything from theaters to storerooms and workshops to
wine presses. The later legend behind this famous building is that it is also a labyrinth
designed by the inventor Daedalus for King Minos to house a Minotaur-a man-eating
monster that is half man, half bull. You have heard that it is impossible to find your way out
of the labyrinth once put inside, and that no one escapes the Minotaur. You don't plan to find
out how much of this story is true on your next trip to Crete!
Why is the Palace of Knossos a famous building?
(A) It is a huge complex that houses theaters, food storage, wine presses, and artisans'
workrooms, among other things.
(B) Legend says that it is home to the man-eating Minotaur, who roams its complicated
labyrinth.
(C) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is the large, fertile region through which the Tigris and Euphrates rivers run. It
is often called the "cradle of civilization" because the people that live there did so many
important things first, such as farming, writing, owning land and animals, making wheeled
vehicles, and even building cities. Many different groups of people have lived and ruled in
Mesopotamia, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Kassites, but they all share a
writing system called cuneiform, a kingship-based government, and a belief in similar gods.
Why is Mesopotamia called the "cradle of civilization"?
(A) Many different groups have ruled it, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Kassites.
(B) The people there invented many important things, such as farming, writing, and forming
cities.
(C) It is in a fertile region, and the Tigris and Euphrates rivers run through it.
[Answer=B]
Mitanni
Founded by a group of people called the Hurrians in northern Mesopotamian Syria, the
Mittani kingdom expanded its borders around 1500 B.C. The merchants with whom you
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trade often pass through the Mittani capital, Washukanni. Since the Mittani kingdom is
constantly struggling to keep the Hittites to the north and the Assyrians to the southeast at
bay, you do not think it will survive much longer.
What powerful civilizations threaten to eventually conquer the Mitanni?
(A) The Hurrians and the Washukanni.
(B) The Anatolians and the Euphrates.
(C) The Hittites and the Assyrians.
[Answer=C]
Nubia
Nubia is located on the Nile River south of Egypt. It is rich in valuable raw materials, such as
ebony and gold. On your journey, you are hoping to purchase some Nubian gold-a metal
described by the Egyptians as the flesh of the gods. You are careful to maintain a good
relationship with the Nubians, as they famously use a deadly poison on their arrows and their
powerful military conquered and controlled Egypt for over a century.
What makes Nubians a powerful people?
(A) They have a lot of gold and ebony, and a powerful military.
(B) They are located on the Nile River.
(C) They conquered and controlled Egypt.
[Answer=A]
Cuneiform
Cuneiform, developed around 3200 B.C., is one of the world's first writing systems. It is
written by pressing a sharpened reed stylus into soft clay and is made up of hundreds of
symbols. Only specially trained scribes know how to write it, and you never fail to be
amazed by their ability. Originally used only to record accounting transactions, such as who
traded how much wheat for how many sheep, the idea of writing things down eventually
appealed to a wider audience. Now cuneiform is used to record everything from lists of
kingly deeds to epic poems and personal letters.
For what purpose was cuneiform writing originally intended?
(A) For accounting records.
(B) To write epic poems.
(C) To write letters to the king.
[Answer=A]
Egypt
Egypt was one of the first great civilizations. Founded in 3200 B.C., when the land around
the Nile River was brought under the rule of a single pharaoh (king), it has thrived ever since.
The Egyptians are perhaps most famous for the mighty pyramids they build as tombs for
their pharaohs, whom they mummify after death. But the Egyptians also created one of the
world's first writing systems, called hieroglyphs, and have developed an organized society
that is home to some of the world's greatest artists and wealthiest traders.
What are some of Egypt's most important achievements?
(A) Hieroglyphs and great artists.
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(B) Pyramids and mummified pharaohs.
(C) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Gilgamesh
The epic tale of Gilgamesh is the world's oldest work of literature, and one of your favorite
stories. It was written down for the first time around 2000 B.C., though it may be much older
than that. Gilgamesh is the story's hero, and is a powerful but arrogant king. However,
through a friendship with a wild man named Enkidu-who was originally sent by the gods to
destroy him-Gilgamesh learns to value friendship. When he sets out to discover the secret of
immortality, he eventually learns that while no one can live forever, he can find eternal life in
the hearts of his people.
What does Gilgamesh learn at the end of the story?
(A) His story is the oldest work of literature in the world.
(B) His body cannot live forever, but his memory can live on in the hearts of his people.
(C) Enkidu was originally sent by the gods to destroy him.
[Answer=B]
Ishtar
Ishtar is the goddess of fertility, love, and war. She is the daughter of the moon god, Sin, and
one of the most important of the Mesopotamian gods. She is known to be possessive of those
she loves, and there are many stories that tell of her wrath and the lengths to which she will
go for revenge. In the epic of Gilgamesh, she falls in love with Gilgamesh, but he rejects her.
To get even with him, she sends the Bull of Heaven to destroy him, but Gilgamesh wins in
the end.
Who is Ishtar?
(A) The goddess of the moon.
(B) The goddess of Babylon.
(C) The goddess of fertility, love, and war.
[Answer=C]
Marduk
According to the Mesopotamian religion, Marduk is the chief god of Babylon and the official
god of Babylonia. For all his divine characteristics, he is known as the god of fifty names. He
is eventually called simply Bel, which means "Lord." Everything in nature, including man,
owes its existence to Marduk.
Who is Marduk?
(A) The chief god of Babylonia.
(A) The Mesopotamian god to which everything in nature owes its existence.
(A) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Tell el-Armana
Pharaoh Amenhotep IV of Egypt changed his name to Akhenaten in honor of Aten, god of
the sun. He and his wife Nefertiti (the most beautiful woman in Egypt) founded the capital
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city of Akhetaten (Amarna) in honor of their new religion, in which Aten is worshipped as
the only god. Before this, Egyptians worshipped many different gods, such as Thoth, the god
of writing and the moon, and Sekhmet, the goddess of war. Though Akhenaten and Nefertiti
have been successful rulers, you believe that their religion and capital will be abandoned
once they have died and power passes to their nephew Tutankhamun.
Why did Akhenaten and Nefertiti move the capital to Akhetaten (Amarna)?
(A) To honor their one and only god, Aten.
(B) They did not like the previous capital, Thebes.
(C) To honor their one and only god, Sekhmet.
[Answer=A]
Amarna Letters
The archives of the Egyptian pharaoh's foreign ministry includes cuneiform texts, most of
which are records of correspondence with Near Eastern monarchs and the rulers of nearby
Syria and the Levant. The letters describe the struggles for power and domination, the trade
and tribute, that characterized international relations in the mid-fourteenth century B.C. (In
1887 A.D., this stash of cuneiform tablets will be discovered by a Bedouin woman working
in a field at a site commonly referred to as Tell el-Amarna and so become known as the
Amarna Letters. As of 2008, 382 tablets and fragments have been recovered and deciphered.)
What are the Amarna Letters?
(A) Love letters between the Egyptian pharaoh and his queen.
(A) Correspondence written in hieroglyphs on papyrus.
(A) Records of foreign correspondence.
[Answer=C]
Thebes
Thebes, the capital of Egypt, lies on the east bank of the Nile River. It is the royal home of
the pharaohs both during life and after death; in the desert to the west of the river the
pharaohs build mighty pyramids to house their mummified bodies. This is called the Valley
of the Kings. You have not seen it, but have heard many stories about this imposing
landscape. The Egyptians believe in a vivid afterlife, and the rulers prepare for it by outfitting
their pyramids with luxuries such as furniture, gold-covered mummy cases, and magical
statues to ensure a happy life after death.
Why do the pharaohs build pyramids?
(A) To provide meeting places for government officials.
(B) To serve as palaces for the rulers of Egypt.
(C) To serve as homes for the pharaohs after death.
[Answer=C]
Troy
Troy is a city on the west coast of Anatolia, and, according to myth, it was the site of the
Trojan War. The war was fought for the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the
world and the wife of Menelaus, a Greek king. The goddess Aphrodite bewitched her to fall
in love with Paris, the prince of Troy, and she ran away with him. In order to get her back,
Menelaus and his followers attacked Troy. The war lasted ten years and only ended when the
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Greeks managed to smuggle their troops into the fortified city where the Trojans were
stationed in the belly of a giant, hollow, wooden horse. (Centuries later, Homer tells this
story in his epic poem, "The Iliad.")
According to myth, what caused the Trojan War?
(A) Aphrodite helped Paris steal Menelaus's wife, Helen.
(B) The Greeks smuggled their troops into the city inside a giant, wooden horse.
(C) Aphrodite helped Menelaus steal Paris's wife, Helen.
[Answer=A]
Ugarit
Built around an ideal harbor on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, Ugarit is a
prosperous trade city. Merchants traveling over land from Mesopotamia come here to trade
with merchant ships like yours, which sail from Anatolia to Egypt to Crete, and back again.
So much business is done in Ugarit that it has become one of the wealthiest and most
powerful cities of the region, rivaling nearby Byblos and Tyre. You fear that this diverse and
sophisticated city will eventually fall into disrepair, however, because of the Mediterranean
pirates who repeatedly loot and vandalize it.
Why is Ugarit so wealthy and powerful?
(A) Its population is diverse and sophisticated.
(B) It rivals nearby Byblos and Tyre.
(C) Merchants from all over trade with one another here.
[Answer=C]
Text for “Play the game” Level II of Shipwreck
Crete
Crete exports timber, foodstuffs, cloth, and, most likely, olive oil, as well as finely crafted
luxury goods. In exchange, the Minoans of Crete import tin, copper, gold, silver, emery, fine
stones, ivory, and some manufactured objects. For their basic needs, however, the Minoans
are self-sufficient. They are skilled in metalworking and pottery-exquisite filigree, granulated
jewelry, and carved seal stones reveal an extraordinary sensitivity to materials and dynamic
forms. These characteristics are equally apparent in a variety of media, including clay, gold,
stone, ivory, and bronze. The Minoans also paint colorful and descriptive frescoes and
developed an early form of writing.
What are some important accomplishments of the Minoans?
(A) They build large cities and developed a form of writing.
(B) They paint colorful frescoes and are avid traders.
(C) Both A and B are correct.
[Answer=C]
Mersa Matruh
Mersa Matruh is a port city on the north coast of Egypt where luxury goods such as ivory and
ostrich shells are transshipped. It is a major stop on the route you travel when trading with
nations along the coastline of the eastern Mediterranean Sea. This route usually runs counter10
clockwise, hugging the coast, and you usually stop at ports in Egypt, Canaan, Cyprus,
Anatolia, Crete, and the Greek mainland, before circling back to Mersa Matruh.
If you sail counter-clockwise route around the Mediterranean, what might be your next stop
after Mersa Matruh?
(A) Ashkelon in Canaan.
(B) Kommos on Crete.
(C) Kas in Anatolia.
[Answer=A]
Canaan
The region known as Canaan is your home. Many different groups of people live there,
including the later Phoenicians (1500-300 B.C.), who are famous sailors. Canaan stretches
along the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, from the Anatolian peninsula in the north to
Egypt in the south. Because of its location along the coast, the people of Canaan are
important sea merchants, buying and selling goods such as ingots of blue glass, ivory, and
tin.
Why are the Canaanites important sea merchants?
(A) Canaan is home to many different groups of people.
(B) Canaanites produce a unique type of blue glass.
(C) Canaan is a coastal region with many ports.
[Answer=C]
Tyre
Tyre is one of the wealthiest cities on the coast of the Mediterranean and is home to
merchants, expert sailors and shipbuilders, and master craftsmen. Famous for their glass and
wood, local artists produce beautiful pieces influenced by the art of the civilizations with
whom they trade, such as Egypt, Cyprus, and Assyria. Tyre's trademark, however, is a dye
called Tyrian purple that is made from tiny sea snails called murex. This dye creates such a
vibrant color that it has become a royal favorite. Thousands of opercula-the substance that
forms a protective barrier when snails retract into their shells-are found on your ship.
What is Tyre's most famous product?
(A) Artwork from Egypt, Cyprus, and Assyria.
(B) Delicious sea snails.
(C) A purple dye that has become a royal favorite.
[Answer=C]
Byblos
You are carrying 3.3 tons of stone anchors to moor your ship. Such anchors are also used as
votive and funerary offerings in temples and tombs at sites such as Ugarit and Byblos.
Byblos, founded around 5000 B.C., may be the oldest city in the world in which people
continue to live. The later Phoenicians (1500-300 B.C.)-famous sea-faring people who live in
this region-recorded that Cronus, the Greek Titan god of time, built Byblos and that the
Egyptian god Thoth invented writing there. The city also has a powerful military and is home
to a mighty monument to Reshef, the Canaanite war god. A wealthy trading city on the
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Mediterranean coast, Byblos is a strong ally of the Egyptian pharaohs. The pharaohs need the
cedar and other wood shipped from Byblos for shipbuilding and tomb construction.
The Egyptian pharaohs need what material from Byblos?
(A) Cedar and other wood.
(B) Stone.
(C) Copper.
[Answer=A]
Ugarit
Along your trade route, your ship picks up an elephant tusk and several hippopotamus teeth
at Ugarit. During the second millennium B.C., hippopotamus ivory, from the animal's tooth,
was used commonly in the Near East, but by the first millennium B.C., elephant ivory is
preferred because it is easy to carve and because of its exceptional durability. Elephants,
which at this time roam the steppes and plains of Syria, provide a source for the raw material;
ivory is also imported from Africa via Egypt and from India via Iran and the Persian Gulf.
Combs, plaques, figurines, pins, and furniture inlays made of ivory are common products of
the Aegean during the Bronze Age. Ivory is treasured as a rare, beautiful, and relatively easy
to carve material.
What makes ivory a good material for luxury products?
(A) It's readily available.
(B) It's beautiful and easy to carve.
(C) It comes from hippopotamus teeth.
[Answer=B]
Cyprus
Your ship is carrying more than ten tons of copper. The island of Cyprus is famous for
having lots of copper. It is traded, often by the ton, in the form of four-pronged ingots shaped
like cow hides. Copper is a valuable item because, when mixed with tin, it makes the metal
bronze. Bronze is very strong-much stronger than copper or tin alone-so it is good for making
tools and weapons. In fact, it is because of the strength of bronze tools that Mediterranean
shipbuilders are able to build boats like yours-large and powerful enough to sail across the
sea.
Why is copper valuable?
(A) It makes beautiful jewelry.
(B) Cyprus is famous for having so much of it.
(C) It makes bronze, which is a strong and useful metal.
[Answer=C]
Kas
This rocky coast is where the original Uluburun ship sank. You've made it here without
missing any questions. So, relax, you have immunity at this port.
Mycenaean Greece
The Mycenaeans live in a collection of kingdoms on the Greek mainland. They are important
traders, exchanging their local olive oil, jewelry, and wine for raw materials such as copper
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and tin. You frequently do business with them. While they have their own traditions, the
Mycenaeans have also adopted many Minoan accomplishments, such as their writing system
and their style of painting. You think that they plan to invade Crete soon, and fear that when
they do, they will be victorious.
What local goods do traders like you often buy from the Mycenaeans?
(A) Written documents and paintings.
(B) Copper and tin.
(C) Olive oil, jewelry, and wine.
[Answer=C]
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