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1. What is the Hurrian song? Why is it important?
The Hurrian song refers to a set of fragmentary relics as well as a nearly complete example of notated music from around 1400 BCE. The almost complete song or hymn is written in cuneiform writing on clay tablets. At least one of the tablets is noted as a song, and the musical notation appears to have been written for the nine-stringed lyre.
2. What is the Natya Shastra? Why is it important?
The Natya Shastra is a written discourse on the performing arts, including music, dance, stage performances, and so on. It is believed to have been written sometime between 200 BCE and 200 CE. The treatise gives quite detailed information on the types of instruments that were used at the time and the forms of music that were popular. Some have argued that this document represents the foundation of music and other fine arts for India, as it contains so much information about the ancient music.
3. Who were troubadours? What was their music like?
Troubadours were traveling poet-musicians who traveled from place to place, singing and performing for the nobility. The songs that they sang were generally monophonic and the troubadour often accompanied himself with an instrument such as a lyre or even drums. The melodies were sometimes based on those produced for religious purposes, although they were often simpler and had a faster tempo. The topics of the songs were varied, but courtly love was a popular one.
4. What are modes? Describe at least one type of mode.
Modes were used before the modern day scales that we are more familiar with. They were "a series of pitches in predefined order, with specific intervals between each pitch." Seven different modes were used to compose and play music: Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian.
5. What is polyphonic music? How does it differ from monophonic music?
Polyphonic music uses two or more independent melodies. Gradually, musicians and singers began to add harmonies to the chants. Early examples were fairly simple, with a second voice singing a fourth or fifth interval above the melody

Critical Thinking Questions
1. Why did early humans develop music? What are some of the ways that they were thought to create music?
They developed music for entertainment, for parties and dances ad many other things.
2. Why is the study of prehistoric and ancient music important? What can we learn from it?
Music, being an evolved form of communication could make us understand better the social relations, beliefs, etc of our ancestors. By studying the musical instruments used in both prehistoric and ancient times we can make assumptions on how they where used and even what use may have they had (of a religious nature, celebration ...)
3. What roles did music play in the life of prehistoric and ancient people? Are the roles similar to or different from the roles that it plays today?
For a slightly more serious answer... It's hard to say exactly... But musical instruments are among the very oldest artifacts found; there were bone flutes in the Lascaux and Chauvet caves which when reproduced were found to sound a pentatonic scale... We know as well that our cousins, the chimps, engage in communal drumming and hooting sessions. We can speculate that music is innate among humans, and in it's earliest manifestation may have had a ritual purpose... Many primitive tribes use rythmic dance and music for mating rituals, preparation for war, celebrations.... We can assume their ancestors did much the same.
4. What were the effects of musical notation on music, society, and composers?
Music notation allows for multiple people to be able to learn to play a musical composition without hearing it as well as to have it survive long after the composer is dead. It also broadens a composers ability to create music without having to always memorize.
5. Describe medieval music's relationship with the Catholic Church. How was the music influenced by the Church?
The Roman Catholic Church used the Gregorian Chant as their official music during the Middle Ages. Chanting was monotonous and performed by monks but eventually developed a more melodic sound. Masses were sung. The Church did not use musical instruments to accompany the singing because that was associated with Pagan rites.