Chapter 3 Lesson 4
I.
Evidence of Cultural Contact
a.
Trade was one of several forms of contact between the cultures of the
ancient world.
b.
Different cultures came into contact through travel.
c.
Others through war and migration.
d.
Clues about contact between ancient cultures are found in the
archaeological record.
e.
Whenever different cultures come in contact, they exchange goods and
ideas. This is known as cultural
diffusion.
II.
Evidence of Independent Invention
a.
Different cultures can make similar developments without coming into
contact with each other.
Example:
Stonehenge and Pyramids
Megaliths:
large stones used in prehistoric buildings or monuments.
b.
Similar developments can arise when people in different places work to
solve similar problems.
c.
New methods of evaluating and understanding evidence can change
archaeologists’ interpretations.