CLEP WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1 EXAMINATION
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ The Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age). Answer: The age in which
humans lived as nomads in small communities, hunting and gathering
fruits for food and using fire and crude stone implements.
◉ The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age). Answer: The age in which stone
tools were refined, animals were domesticated, and agriculture was
developed as people transitioned from a nomadic to a more settled way
of life.
◉ The Bronze Age. Answer: The age in which cities were developed,
and tools were increasingly made out of metal alloys rather than stone.
Irrigation and writing began to be developed during this time.
◉ Sumer (Mesopotamia). Answer: The area within the Tigris-Euphrates
river valley.
◉ Akkadians. Answer: A semi-nomadic people, who spoke a Semitic
language. Migrated from the deserts west of Mesopotamia and settled in
the Tigris-Euphrates valley during the 4th millennium B.C.E.
,◉ King Sargon. Answer: An Akkadian king (2371-2316 B.C.E.,
approximate) who led the Akkadians in conquering Sumerian city-states.
Established an empire that unified Mesopotamia and reached beyond it
into the Iranian plateau and as far west as Lebanon. His dynasty ruled
Akkad and Sumer for about 200 years.
◉ The Third Dynasty of Ur. Answer: Around 2100 B.C.E., the Sumerian
city of Ur rose up in revolt against the Akkadian rule. The attained
control of Mesopotamia and ruled for about 100 years.
◉ Amorites. Answer: Re-unified Mesopotamia, and established their
capital at Babylon, on the Euphrates. The Amorites (Old Babylonian
Dynasty) ruled for about 300 years, from around 1900-1600 B.C.E.
◉ Hammurabi. Answer: (1792-1750 B.C.E., approximate) The greatest
king of the Old Babylonian Dynasty. Famous for his law code. Claimed
to be a representative of the gods.
◉ Hammurabi's Code. Answer: A law code that attempted to stabilize
the hierarchical society. Presented like a pyramid: the slaves at the
bottom, freemen such as peasants and merchants next, warrior
aristocracy and priesthood, and the king at the top. Known for, "An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Dealt with legislation regarding the
family, ownership of land, and commercial transactions.
,◉ Hittites. Answer: From Anatolia (Asia Minor). Attacked the Old
Babylonian Empire around 1600 B.C.E. and plundered them.
◉ Kassites. Answer: From the region that is now Iran. Attacked the Old
Babylonian Empire around 1600 B.C.E. and established themselves as
rulers for 300 years.
◉ Hurrians. Answer: Established the kingdom of Mitanni in the upper
Tigris-Euphrates valley around 1500 B.C.E. which lasted for 100 years,
until they were conquered by the Hittites.
◉ Cuneiform. Answer: The earliest form of writing, made by wedge-
shaped marks impressed on clay tables using a stylus. Initially
pictographs (representing objects), but later included ideograms
(representing ideas). Began around 3000 B.C.E.
◉ Ziggurats. Answer: Multi-level, pyramid-like constructions by the
people of Mesopotamia. Demonstrate practical engineering skills.
◉ Gilgamesh. Answer: A Sumerian epic poem inscribed around 2000
B.C.E. on twelve cuneiform tablets. Describes the quest of the hero
Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, in search of immortality. Includes an account
of a great flood.
, ◉ Enuma Elish. Answer: A Sumerian epic poem describing the story of
creation.
◉ The Egyptian Archaic Period. Answer: The first two dynasties of
Egypt governed from about 3100-2700 B.C.E. Unified the Nile Valley.
Under centralized government, the economy was carefully planned and
agriculture was efficient.
◉ The Old Kingdom. Answer: The Old Kingdom in Egypt lasted from
about 2700-2200 B.C.E., during the 3rd to the 6th dynasties, when the
power of the pharaohs was supreme. Pharaohs were viewed as gods. The
greatest pyramids were constructed at this time, particularly during the
4th dynasty. The belief in an afterlife for the pharaohs led to the practice
of embalming, or mummification.
◉ The First Intermediate Period. Answer: From about 2200-2050
B.C.E., the pharaohs in Egypt failed to assert their power effectively, and
in this way the nobles gained control of the government. The
decentralization of power led to civil wars between the nobles, or
"nomarchs," and to the lack of coordination in agriculture which resulted
in widespread famine.
◉ The Middle Kingdom. Answer: From about 2050-1700 B.C.E.,
centralized government was restored in Egypt under the 11th and 12th
dynasties. However, the period of stability ended when foreigners,
known as the Hyksos, invaded the Nile Delta and conquered the
Egyptian army.
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
◉ The Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age). Answer: The age in which
humans lived as nomads in small communities, hunting and gathering
fruits for food and using fire and crude stone implements.
◉ The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age). Answer: The age in which stone
tools were refined, animals were domesticated, and agriculture was
developed as people transitioned from a nomadic to a more settled way
of life.
◉ The Bronze Age. Answer: The age in which cities were developed,
and tools were increasingly made out of metal alloys rather than stone.
Irrigation and writing began to be developed during this time.
◉ Sumer (Mesopotamia). Answer: The area within the Tigris-Euphrates
river valley.
◉ Akkadians. Answer: A semi-nomadic people, who spoke a Semitic
language. Migrated from the deserts west of Mesopotamia and settled in
the Tigris-Euphrates valley during the 4th millennium B.C.E.
,◉ King Sargon. Answer: An Akkadian king (2371-2316 B.C.E.,
approximate) who led the Akkadians in conquering Sumerian city-states.
Established an empire that unified Mesopotamia and reached beyond it
into the Iranian plateau and as far west as Lebanon. His dynasty ruled
Akkad and Sumer for about 200 years.
◉ The Third Dynasty of Ur. Answer: Around 2100 B.C.E., the Sumerian
city of Ur rose up in revolt against the Akkadian rule. The attained
control of Mesopotamia and ruled for about 100 years.
◉ Amorites. Answer: Re-unified Mesopotamia, and established their
capital at Babylon, on the Euphrates. The Amorites (Old Babylonian
Dynasty) ruled for about 300 years, from around 1900-1600 B.C.E.
◉ Hammurabi. Answer: (1792-1750 B.C.E., approximate) The greatest
king of the Old Babylonian Dynasty. Famous for his law code. Claimed
to be a representative of the gods.
◉ Hammurabi's Code. Answer: A law code that attempted to stabilize
the hierarchical society. Presented like a pyramid: the slaves at the
bottom, freemen such as peasants and merchants next, warrior
aristocracy and priesthood, and the king at the top. Known for, "An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." Dealt with legislation regarding the
family, ownership of land, and commercial transactions.
,◉ Hittites. Answer: From Anatolia (Asia Minor). Attacked the Old
Babylonian Empire around 1600 B.C.E. and plundered them.
◉ Kassites. Answer: From the region that is now Iran. Attacked the Old
Babylonian Empire around 1600 B.C.E. and established themselves as
rulers for 300 years.
◉ Hurrians. Answer: Established the kingdom of Mitanni in the upper
Tigris-Euphrates valley around 1500 B.C.E. which lasted for 100 years,
until they were conquered by the Hittites.
◉ Cuneiform. Answer: The earliest form of writing, made by wedge-
shaped marks impressed on clay tables using a stylus. Initially
pictographs (representing objects), but later included ideograms
(representing ideas). Began around 3000 B.C.E.
◉ Ziggurats. Answer: Multi-level, pyramid-like constructions by the
people of Mesopotamia. Demonstrate practical engineering skills.
◉ Gilgamesh. Answer: A Sumerian epic poem inscribed around 2000
B.C.E. on twelve cuneiform tablets. Describes the quest of the hero
Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, in search of immortality. Includes an account
of a great flood.
, ◉ Enuma Elish. Answer: A Sumerian epic poem describing the story of
creation.
◉ The Egyptian Archaic Period. Answer: The first two dynasties of
Egypt governed from about 3100-2700 B.C.E. Unified the Nile Valley.
Under centralized government, the economy was carefully planned and
agriculture was efficient.
◉ The Old Kingdom. Answer: The Old Kingdom in Egypt lasted from
about 2700-2200 B.C.E., during the 3rd to the 6th dynasties, when the
power of the pharaohs was supreme. Pharaohs were viewed as gods. The
greatest pyramids were constructed at this time, particularly during the
4th dynasty. The belief in an afterlife for the pharaohs led to the practice
of embalming, or mummification.
◉ The First Intermediate Period. Answer: From about 2200-2050
B.C.E., the pharaohs in Egypt failed to assert their power effectively, and
in this way the nobles gained control of the government. The
decentralization of power led to civil wars between the nobles, or
"nomarchs," and to the lack of coordination in agriculture which resulted
in widespread famine.
◉ The Middle Kingdom. Answer: From about 2050-1700 B.C.E.,
centralized government was restored in Egypt under the 11th and 12th
dynasties. However, the period of stability ended when foreigners,
known as the Hyksos, invaded the Nile Delta and conquered the
Egyptian army.
