How foods, languages and inventions spread from place to place
Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.
Where were our numerals invented, Esme asks?
- In India
- In Rome, as Roman numerals
- In Arabia, by Al-Khwarizmi
- In Italy, by Fibonacci
Which book helped spread the numerals in Europe, Jun asks?
Use the picture in question 1.
- A Chinese paper scroll
- Liber Abaci
- The Sidereal Messenger
- A book by Al-Khwarizmi in Persian
Cause and effect chain "How papermaking spread": [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE); [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s; [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe; [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. Cause and effect chain "How papermaking spread": [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE); [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s; [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe; [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. How papermaking spread [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE) [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. Where was papermaking first documented, Kira asks?
- Spain, with its waterwheel mills
- Italy
- China
- Egypt, with papyrus
In what order did papermaking spread, Luz asks?
Use the picture in question 3.
- Europe, Middle East, China
- It appeared everywhere at once
- Spain first, then China
- China, Middle East, Europe
Paper and printing both appear in this pack. How might paper have helped printing, Noah asks?
Use the picture in question 3.
- Mills made pages for books
- Printing came before paper in Europe
- They had no link
- Paper stopped printing from spreading
How many years after Liber Abaci was the year 1500, Pia asks?
Cause and effect chain "How our numerals spread": [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries; [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known; [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe; [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy; [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4, 4 → 5. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. Cause and effect chain "How our numerals spread": [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries; [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known; [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe; [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy; [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4, 4 → 5. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. How our numerals spread [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. - 2,702 years
- 29 years
- 1,202 years
- 298 years
Cause and effect chain "How papermaking spread": [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE); [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s; [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe; [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. Cause and effect chain "How papermaking spread": [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE); [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s; [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe; [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. How papermaking spread [1] papermaking is first documented in China in the Eastern Han period (25–220 CE) [2] papermaking spreads into the Middle East after the 700s [3] by the 1000s, papermaking reaches Europe [4] by the 1200s, paper mills in Spain use waterwheels Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. By which century had papermaking reached Europe, Ren asks?
- The 1900s
- The 700s, when it reached the Middle East
- The 1000s
- The 200s, in Han times
Why can no one give the exact year paper was invented, Tala asks?
Use the picture in question 7.
- Paper was invented last century
- Cai Lun wrote down the exact day
- No paper has survived
- Older finds leave it uncertain
Ari's note says, "Papermaking began in Spain." Which fix is right?
Use the picture in question 7.
- Change "began" to "ended"
- Change "Papermaking" to "Jazz"
- Leave it: Spain had the first waterwheel mills
- Change "Spain" to "China"
Bo's note says, "The numerals spread across Europe in a single year." Which fix is right?
Cause and effect chain "How our numerals spread": [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries; [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known; [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe; [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy; [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4, 4 → 5. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. Cause and effect chain "How our numerals spread": [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries; [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known; [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe; [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy; [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe. Arrows: 1 → 2, 2 → 3, 3 → 4, 4 → 5. Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. How our numerals spread [1] Indian mathematicians invent a numeral system with ten signs, zero to nine, between the 1st and 4th centuries [2] the Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizmi's writings in Arabic make it widely known [3] Fibonacci's book Liber Abaci (1202) helps spread it in Europe [4] until printing in the 1400s, its use in Europe is mainly in northern Italy [5] printed books carry the numerals across Europe Below the chains: papermaking is traditionally credited to Cai Lun, but older finds mean the exact date and inventor cannot be known. - Change it: they spread over centuries
- Change "Europe" to "Han China"
- Change "numerals" to "potatoes"
- Leave it: one year was enough