Question

The Babylonian civilization had access to few natural resources. Because of their geographic location in Mesopotamia, the Babylonians could not acquire timber, metal, wine or stone for themselves. To obtain these, the Babylonians had to trade goods they had produced such as grain and textiles.
12. According to the passage above, how did scarcity affect the economy in Mesopotamia?

A. They had to choose among a surplus of resources that were available to them.
B. They had to export goods that they had in surplus in order to import scarce resources.
C. They had to move to other regions because their region could not sustain them.
D. They had to barter with regions that produced the same resources they were producing.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. They had to export goods that they had in surplus in order to import scarce resources.

Explanation:

Answer 2

Answer:

B (They had to export goods that they had in surplus in order to import scarce resources.)

Explanation:

Think about the US today. There are some resources - oil, for example - that we trade for because we do not have enough of them to sustain ourselves. In return, we pay money that the other countries can use to help the people. The Babylonians did not have enough - metal, for example - to sustain themselves, so they bartered with others (not using money, of course). Therefore, to pay for the resources they did need, they had to have a surplus of other natural resources to trade. They exported these goods to others and imported resources that were scarce.

I wish you the best of luck ;)