HS Age of Exploration Lesson 1

"Draw a map of the world as you know it."

​Ptolemy Map pre-1492

Discuss with a partner: "What is accurate on this old map? What is distorted or missing entirely? Based on this map, what parts of the world do you think Europeans were most interested in?"

Multiple Choice

Which of the following countries was NOT a major European power involved in the Age of Exploration?

• Spain

• Portugal

• Italy

• Netherlands

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was a major economic motivation for seeking new trade routes to Asia?

• Desire for valuable commodities like spices and silk

• Spread of Christianity

• National prestige

• Improved ship design

Multiple Choice

Which of the following were motivations for European exploration?

• Desire for gold and spices

• Spread of Christianity

• Territory expansion

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Which advancements in navigation technology contributed to the Age of Exploration?

• Improved maps

• Better ship design

• Navigation instruments

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the religious motivation for European exploration during the Age of Exploration?

• To spread Christianity and convert indigenous populations

• To gain personal wealth and riches

• To escape religious persecution in Europe

• To establish new trade routes for spices

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about the search for 'Glory' during the Age of Exploration are correct?

• Explorers sought personal honor and national pride.

• Explorers were motivated solely by religious reasons.

• Royal families desired to expand their territories for prestige.

• Explorers earned titles and recognition for their achievements.

Fill in the Blank

The desire for ___ was a powerful motivator for both individuals and nations during the Age of Exploration.

Multiple Choice

The caravel, a light and highly maneuverable sailing ship with lateen sails, was relatively inexpensive to build and maintain. Considering these features, how did the caravel most directly influence the Age of Exploration?

• It limited exploration to coastal regions because it could not handle ocean voyages.

• It allowed European powers to expand exploration by enabling longer and more versatile voyages.

• It caused explorers to abandon river navigation in favor of open-sea travel.

• It made exploration more dangerous due to its light and fragile design.

Multiple Choice

Navigators in the Age of Exploration measured the angle of celestial bodies, such as the sun or stars, above the horizon to determine a ship’s latitude. How did this advancement most directly affect European exploration?

• t enabled more accurate open-ocean navigation, encouraging longer voyages beyond sight of land.

• It reduced the need for new ship designs, since sailors could always rely on wind currents.

• It eliminated the dangers of sea travel by preventing storms from damaging ships.

• It forced explorers to depend solely on coastal routes, limiting expansion across the Atlantic.

Multiple Choice

How did the magnetic compass help sailors during navigation?

• It allowed them to measure time accurately

• It provided a consistent sense of direction regardless of weather or visibility

• It helped them calculate distances between ports

• It was used to draw maps

Multiple Choice

During the Age of Exploration, mapmakers incorporated new discoveries about coastlines, landmasses, and geographical features into their charts. How did improvements such as the use of latitude and longitude enhance navigation?

• They ensured that all explorers reached their destinations without error.

• They eliminated the need for instruments like the compass or astrolabe.

• They allowed sailors to predict weather patterns with complete accuracy.

• They provided explorers with a more precise way to determine location and plan sea routes.

Fill in the Blank

The rise of ___ was one of the economic effects of improved navigation and mapping.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vCMOwzBvOMC_Hq0pryBQgtOMh4gva4wy-S3mKgRyZrg/edit?tab=t.0