Early Europe, Africa, and Asia Quiz

In Europe during the Middle Ages, the people most likely to be able to read and write were

• Peasants
• Clergymen
• Traders
• Freemen

How did the city of Mecca promote trade?

• It was the starting point of the Silk Road
• Muslim travel to the city spurred the spread of trade routes
• The city lies near both land and sea routes connecting Africa
• All gold and slaves from Africa had to travel through the city

Along with luxury items such as gold, ivory, and hardwoods, Arab merchants traveled to East Africa to get 

• gunpowder
• perfume
• enslaved Africans
• silks

Which features of Chinese civilization had the greatest impact on other civilizations?

• its geographic isolation
• silk traded on the silk road
• its thriving trade
• its new technologies

What caused the Portuguese to look for a route to Asia by way of Africa?

• It took too long to travel by way of the Mediterranean Sea
• The Silk Road was too dangerous for Europeans to travel along
• Italian and Middle Eastern merchants controlled all the Mediterranean routes
• They had heard tales of Indian sailors making the same journey in reverse. 

The astrolabe had an impact on America because it

• was adopted by the Native Americans.
• was an important trade good brought by the Europeans.
• was brought to America from the Muslim world.
• enabled Europeans to travel across the Atlantic.

Which of the following was a result of the Crusades?

• Christians took over the Holy Land
• Muslims took over much of Portugal and Spain
• Middle Easterners adopted European technologies. 
• Europeans adopted Middle Eastern technologies.

China was the most isolated civilization, and yet its technologies were able to change the world mainly because

• they spread through trade
• they were so advanced
• Europeans developed them futher
• the technologies made China less isolated

The Renaissance occurred as a direct result of 

• European voyages of exploration.
• Chinese inventions.
• trade with the Middle East.
• Greek and Latin learning. 

What was the most important historical effect of the astrolabe?

• It enabled sailors to find their latitude.
• It may have originated in Africa.
• It made possible long voyages across oceans.
• It spread from Africa or the Middle East to Europe.