Grade 5 · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 7
Trade and Taxes
Markets, barter, tribute and taxes
What your child practises
How people traded goods and ideas, the Silk Roads, barter and early coins, and how rulers collected taxes and tribute in grain, labour or goods.
Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: development of economic practices, including trade networks and taxes · barter, coins, trade routes, tribute and taxes in ancient economies
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which ancient group is known for early coins?
🪙- Lydia (in today's Turkey), about 600 BCE
- Inuit, about 700 CE
- the Maya, about 4000 BCE
- Canada, about 1900
Show answer
Lydia (in today's Turkey), about 600 BCE
Hint: Coins made trade easier than barter. Many places used coins later.
Question 2
The Silk Roads were…
🐫- a river in China
- roads made of silk
- networks of trade routes linking East Asia, Central Asia and Europe
- a single paved highway
Show answer
networks of trade routes linking East Asia, Central Asia and Europe
Hint: Many routes crossed deserts and mountains. Traders carried silk, spices and ideas.
Question 3
Which of these was sold along the Silk Roads?
- plastic toys
- snowmobiles
- tablet computers
- silk cloth
Show answer
silk cloth
Hint: China made silk, and traders carried it to other lands.
Question 4
What is trade?
🔄- making a map
- keeping everything for yourself
- taking things by force only
- exchanging goods or services
Show answer
exchanging goods or services
Hint: People trade when they swap things or buy and sell.
Question 5
Why might a very high tax make people unhappy?
- They keep less of what they grew or earned
- Nothing changes
- They become richer
- They keep more
Show answer
They keep less of what they grew or earned
Hint: Unfair or heavy taxes can lead to protests and unrest.
Question 6
Rome's roads were built to move armies. How did they also help trade?
- They stopped all travel
- Only soldiers could use them
- They ended trade
- Merchants could carry goods across the empire
Show answer
Merchants could carry goods across the empire
Hint: A good road helps anyone who is travelling.