Early Explorations

Which of the following first caused Europeans to become more interested in Asia?

• The fall of the Roman Empire in 476 C.E.

• Military expeditions made by Europeans to the Holy Land beginning in the 1000s C.E.

• The spread of Islam throughout the Middle East and Africa beginning in the 600s C.E.

• The rise of Italian city-states as economic centers in the 1300s C.E.

Which explorer’s stories of China’s fabulous wealth inspired other Europeans to search for sea routes to Asia?

• Kublai Khan

• Prince Henry

• Marco Polo

• Bartolomeu Dias

What was a major characteristic of the Renaissance?

• a renewed interest in culture and learning

• a “turning inward” and a loss of interest in exploration

• a renewed reliance on religious belief rather than reason

• a sharp decline of trade between Europe and Asia

During the Renaissance, which of the following contributed to Europe’s desire to explore?

• Strong monarchs sought ways to increase trade to make their countries wealthier.

• Scientists wanted to establish once and for all that the Earth was round.

• A system of national laws increasingly replaced local rule.

• Small, weak city-states needed additional income to compete with larger nations.

By the 1400s, which nations began to rival Italy as leaders in trade and exploration?

• England and Portugal

• Greece and Spain

• Portugal and Spain

• France and England

Which technological innovation allowed sailors to use the position of stars to plan a course?

• telescope

• caravel

• compass

• astrolabe

Why did Portugal search for new trade routes to Asia along the African coast?

• The journey from Portugal to Asia was shorter along the African coast.

• The Portuguese hoped to learn about trade routes from African merchants.

• Portugal did not have a port on the Mediterranean Sea.

• Portugal wanted to gain control of the African slave trade.

Which explorer was most responsible for making Portugal the “marketplace of Europe”?

• Vasco da Gama

• Marco Polo

• Christopher Columbus

• Bartolomeu Dias

What is one way in which Columbus’s explorations impacted the Americas?

• Native peoples of the Americas quickly adopted European lifestyles.

• Native peoples of the Americas largely abandoned their territory to live in Europe.

• Native peoples of the Americas formed military alliances with European nations.

• Native peoples of the Americas began losing control of their lands.

What is one reason Spain’s monarchs supported Christopher Columbus’s explorations?

• They hoped to launch a new crusade against Islam.

• They wanted to spread Protestantism to Asia.

• They wanted a new source of labor for Spanish plantations.

• They wanted to find new markets for Spanish goods.