There appears to have been a high degree of social interaction between Sumerian city-states, based on ______________________________.

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When evaluating the basis for inferring social interaction among Sumerian city-states, each option offers a different type of evidence to consider.
Option 1: 'Written histories from the area' — While surviving writings can illuminate relationships, the paucity and fragmentary nature of ancient Mesopotamian records often limit our ability to reconstruct inter-city interactions solely from inscriptions. Additionally, many inscriptions may reflect royal propaganda or religious contexts rather than broad social exchange.
Option 2: 'Similarities in temple and palace constructions' — Shared architectural styles can indicate cultural influence or common religious or political ideals, but such similarities might arise from parallel development rather than direct contact. The presence of similar structures could reflect generic Mesopotamian architectural conventions rather than specific interactions between city-states.
Option 3: 'Written histories from Egypt, which describe events in Mesopotamia' — External textual references from distant civilizations can provide corroborating material, yet they depend on interpretive translation and may be biased or limited in scope. They are indirect evidence of inter-city relations within Mesopotamia itself.
Option 4: 'Artistic depictions on wall murals and painted ceramic vessels' — Iconography and style in art can spread through networks of exchange, but iconographic motifs can also be traded or borrowed without implying widespread social integration. While informative, this evidence can be ambiguous without corroborating context.
Option 5: 'Similarities in material culture' — This option points to tangible, comparable artifacts, technologies, and production methods across sites, such as pottery styles, tools, and crafting techniques. Such material similarities strongly reflect interaction, trade, shared practices, and cultural contact among city-states, making it the most direct indicator of social connectivity among them.
In summary, while several categories of evidence can hint at connections, similarities in material culture provide the most concrete and interpretable signal of social interaction between Sumerian city-states, since material exchanges and common production practices are direct traces of contact and shared networks.

ARCH100 OL01 Midterm Exam # 2 - March 17-23, 2025

There appears to have been a high degree of social interaction between Sumerian city-states, based on ______________________________.

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