Records of trade between ancient civilizations in Europe and the

Question

Records of trade between ancient civilizations in Europe and the Americas indicate the use of seagoing ships along the trade over the Atlantic Ocean, which were the main arteries of contact between the various empires. Although the first sailing boats were built in 8000 B.C., it is likely that the earliest trade exchanges between Europe and the Americas started only after the first boats that could cross the sea were built 1000 years later.

Which of the following, if true, casts doubts on the author’s conclusion above?

Which of the following, if true, casts doubts on the author’s conclusion above?

A. The authenticity of the records that indicate the use of seagoing ships was challenged, but the accusation was dismissed subsequently because of the lack of substantial evidence.

B. There is no record of any sea-based trade along the trade routes over the Atlantic Ocean between 10000 and 9000 B.C.

C. There is enough evidence to prove that European empires used lakes and rivers as channels to maintain trade relations with their neighboring countries around 8000 B.C.

D. During the last glacial event 12,000 years ago, parts of the Atlantic Ocean froze completely, allowing for land-based travel.

E. Sea-routes were among the most viable means of maintaining trade between various empires in the ancient world.

donu · Answer

Here's the explanation:

First distill the stimulus:

- Trade between Europe and Americas indicate use of sea going ships
- First ships built in 8000 BC but could not get through the Atlantic from Europe to Americas
-  Conclusion:  trade between Europe and America started only 1000 years later (7000BC) when ships that could pass through the Atlantic were built

Look at the options and eliminate the ones that do not weaken:

(A)  Since the claims against the authenticity of the records were dismissed this does not weaken.

(B)  This strengthens the conclusion. So it's wrong.

(C)  This is tempting but remember the conclusion is about trade between Europe and Americas. This option talks about within Europe which would have been possible so this does not weaken the conclusion.

(D)  Here we are! Remember that the conclusion was that trade between Europe and Americas only started around 7000BC but that would be weakened if the waters were frozen much prior and they could trade via land (or ice) in 12000BC, 5000 years before the ships capable of taking on the Atlantic were built. CORRECT

(E)  Not relevant. Does not really say anything about the conclusion.

Hope this helps!

GMATking94 · Answer

This is a tricky one and we need to have a fair idea of which period are we referring to in the answer choices.

Lets see what the question says -

Ancient records show of trade between America's and Europe. The way this trade took place was thorough the pacific. Though sailing boats were first built around 8000 BC, it took another 1000 years to develop the ones which could cross the Atlantic and hence the trade exchanges started taking place then. We need to find something that weakens the claim or provide an alternate route of trade between the two regions.

Lets dive into the answer choices -

A. The authenticity of the records that indicate the use of seagoing ships was challenged, but the accusation was dismissed subsequently because of the lack of substantial evidence. -  This strengths the authors claim that ships were indeed necessary for the trade.

B. There is no record of any sea-based trade along the trade routes over the Atlantic Ocean between 10000 and 9000 B.C. -  Do not serve our purpose. It sounds like to support the claim that only after ships were invented that trade might have taken place.

C. There is enough evidence to prove that European empires used lakes and rivers as channels to maintain trade relations with their neighboring countries around 8000 B.C. -  Good information to know. But we are concerned with trade over the Atlantic and not lakes and river channels.

D. During the last glacial event 12,000 years ago, parts of the Atlantic Ocean froze completely, allowing for land-based travel. -  12000 years ago can approx. be seen as 10000 BC, and it claims that the Atlantic froze completely allowing land based travel. This provides an alternate explanation of how trade could have taken place between the two regions. It weaken the author's conclusion substantially.

E. Sea-routes were among the most viable means of maintaining trade between various empires in the ancient world. -  Good information to know.

Option (D) serves our purpose.

WiziusCareers1 · Answer

Deconstructing the Argument
Premise 1 (Evidence): Records indicate that trade between ancient Europe and the Americas used seagoing ships across the Atlantic Ocean.

Premise 2 (Fact): The first sailing boats were built in 8000 B.C.

Premise 3 (Assumption/Inference): The first boats capable of crossing the sea were built 1000 years later (i.e., 7000 B.C.).

Conclusion: The earliest trade exchanges between Europe and the Americas started only after 7000 B.C.

The core assumption linking the premises to the conclusion is that the  only way for trade to occur  between Europe and the Americas was via seagoing ships across the Atlantic.

Analyzing the Options to Find the Flaw

The  correct answer must show that trade could have started earlier than 7000 B.C.  by offering an alternative method of contact that did not rely on seagoing ships.

A. The authenticity of the records that indicate the use of seagoing ships was challenged, but the accusation was dismissed subsequently because of the lack of substantial evidence.

This confirms the reliability of the records (Premise 1). If the records are reliable,  it supports the premise , and therefore does nothing to weaken the conclusion. (Incorrect)

B. There is  no record of any sea-based trade  along the trade routes over the Atlantic Ocean between 10000 and 9000 B.C.

This range (10000–9000 B.C.) is before the earliest boats (8000 B.C.) and well before the assumed start of the trade (7000 B.C.). The absence of sea-based trade in this period does not contradict the author's timeline. (Incorrect)

C. There is enough evidence to prove that European empires used lakes and rivers as channels to maintain trade relations with their neighboring countries around 8000 B.C.

This is about local trade within Europe, not intercontinental trade across the Atlantic Ocean (Europe to the Americas). It is  irrelevant  to the conclusion. (Incorrect)

D. During the last glacial event 12,000 years ago, parts of the Atlantic Ocean froze completely, allowing for land-based travel.

This statement  provides a different way for contact and trade  between the two continents: land-based travel.

If land-based travel was possible (12,000 years ago, or 10,000 B.C. in the glacial period), then trade could have occurred before the first seagoing ships (assumed to be 7000 B.C.).

This  completely destroys  the author's underlying assumption that seagoing ships were the only arteries of contact, thereby casting doubt on the conclusion that trade only started after the ships were built. This is the correct answer.

E. Sea-routes were among the most viable means of maintaining trade between various empires in the ancient world.

This  strengthens the idea  that seagoing ships were important, thereby supporting the author's logic that their existence was a precondition for trade. (Incorrect)

Conclusion

Option D weakens the argument by introducing a plausible alternative means of contact (land bridge due to freezing) that occurred at a time earlier than the author's proposed start date for trade, thus undermining the necessity of seagoing ships for the earliest trade exchanges.

repellatquas · Answer

Bunuel , can you please help me in understanding how we concluded 12000 BC from the timeline given in option D as 12000 years ago. What is the point of reference that we should take here to calculate the years which was 12000 years ago?

guddo · Answer

Records of trade between ancient civilizations in Europe and the Americas indicate the use of seagoing ships along the trade over the Atlantic Ocean, which were the main arteries of contact between the various empires. Although the first sailing boats were built in 8000 B.C., it is likely that the earliest trade exchanges between Europe and the Americas started only after the first boats that could cross the sea were built 1000 years later.

Which of the following, if true, casts doubts on the author’s conclusion above?

Which of the following, if true, casts doubts on the author’s conclusion above?

The argument concludes that the earliest trade between Europe and the Americas must have started only after 7000 B.C. That conclusion assumes that such trade could begin only if  seagoing ships  already existed.

(A) The authenticity of the records that indicate the use of seagoing ships was challenged, but the accusation was dismissed subsequently because of the lack of substantial evidence.

This supports the record about ship-based trade. It does not weaken the conclusion.

(B) There is no record of any sea-based trade along the trade routes over the Atlantic Ocean between 10000 and 9000 B.C.

This does not hurt the argument. The conclusion is about trade starting after 7000 B.C., so lack of sea-based trade before that does not contradict it.

(C) There is enough evidence to prove that European empires used lakes and rivers as channels to maintain trade relations with their neighboring countries around 8000 B.C.

This is about local or regional trade, not trade between Europe and the Americas. So it is irrelevant.

(D) During the last glacial event 12,000 years ago, parts of the Atlantic Ocean froze completely, allowing for land-based travel.

This is the best answer. It gives an alternative way for contact and trade to occur before 7000 B.C. So it directly attacks the argument’s key assumption that trade could begin only after the development of seagoing ships.

(E) Sea-routes were among the most viable means of maintaining trade between various empires in the ancient world.

This tends to support the idea that ships were important for trade. It does not weaken the argument.

Answer: (D)

guddo · Answer

I’d read  “12,000 years ago”  from the  present , because the option gives no other reference point.

So it does not mean 12,000 B.C. It means about 12,000 years before now, which is roughly 10,000 B.C. That is the only reason people convert it that way.

egmat · Answer

Hi repellatquas,

Great question! The phrase ' 12,000  years ago' is always measured from the present day — that's the reference point. So if we're roughly in the year  2000  A.D., then  12,000  years ago means approximately  10,000  B.C.

Now let's map this onto the timeline in the stimulus:
-  10,000  B.C. — Atlantic Ocean froze (from option D)
-  8,000  B.C. — First sailing boats were built
-  7,000  B.C. — First sea-crossing boats were built ( 1,000  years after  8,000  B.C.)

The author's conclusion is that trade between Europe and the Americas could only have started after  7,000  B.C., because that's when boats capable of crossing the sea were first built.

But option D tells us that around  10,000  B.C. — a full  3,000  years BEFORE even basic sailing boats existed — the Atlantic Ocean froze over, creating a land bridge. This means people could have walked or traveled by land between Europe and the Americas without needing any boats at all.

This directly weakens the author's conclusion because it shows an alternative way trade could have happened much earlier than  7,000  B.C., without requiring sea-crossing boats.

The exact year doesn't need to be precise — whether it's  10,000  B.C. or  9,800  B.C. doesn't matter. What matters is that the glacial event happened well before boats were invented, opening up another possibility for transatlantic contact.

Key takeaway:  In GMAT CR, when you see 'X years ago,' the reference point is always the present. And for Weaken questions, look for alternative explanations that break the assumed cause-effect link.

Answer: D

agrasan · Answer

Hi  egmat

C. There is enough evidence to prove that European empires used lakes and rivers as channels to maintain trade relations with their neighboring countries around 8000 B.C.

Thanks for this great explanation.
Is (C) wrong because it talks about the trade between  European countries  rather than the trade between  Europe and America ?

Records of trade between ancient civilizations in Europe and the

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