Beginning About 2000 B

question 29

Multiple Choice

Beginning about 2000 B.C.E., what man-made environmental crisis wreaked havoc on Mesopotamian political stability?

• A) The runoff of raw sewage from towns seeped into the water table, causing illness and death.
• B) Overconstruction of irrigation canals in northern city-states left southern city-states without water.
• C) Intensive irrigation elevated the salt level of the soil, which decreased its fertility and lowered crop yields.
• D) Intensive mining in the north led to erosion and disastrous flooding.

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Definitions:

Biologically Determined

Refers to traits, behaviors, or conditions influenced by genetic makeup rather than environmental factors.

Culturally Determined

Influenced or shaped by the customs, beliefs, and social values of a particular society or group.

Age-Related Decline

The natural decrease in physical, cognitive, and psychological function that occurs as individuals grow older.

Processing Speed

The rate at which an individual can take in information, make sense of it, and begin to respond, often assessed in cognitive and psychological tests.