Atlantic World Study Guide

What year did Christopher Columbus first arrive in the Americas?

• 1492

• 1500

• 1498

• 1485

Answer explanation

Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas in 1492, marking a significant historical event.

Which European country was the first to engage in the Atlantic slave trade?

• Spain

• Portugal

• England

• France

Answer explanation

Spain was the first European country to engage in the Atlantic slave trade.

The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of what?

• Cultural ideas between Europe and Asia

• Goods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds

• Gold and silver between the Americas and Europe

• Political power between European monarchs

Answer explanation

The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of goods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds. This exchange had a significant impact on the global ecosystem and human societies.

Which crop, introduced to Europe through the Columbian Exchange, became a staple in Ireland?

• Potato

• Corn

• Tomato

• Tobacco

Answer explanation

The crop introduced to Europe through the Columbian Exchange that became a staple in Ireland is the Potato.

Who was the Aztec emperor during the arrival of Hernán Cortés?

• Montezuma II

• Cuauhtémoc

• Atahualpa

• Moctezuma I

Answer explanation

Montezuma II was the Aztec emperor during the arrival of Hernán Cortés. He ruled during the early 16th century and his reign coincided with the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.

The Middle Passage refers to which part of the Triangular Trade?

• The transport of goods from Europe to Africa

• The transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas

• The shipment of American goods to Europe

• The journey of explorers from Europe to the Americas

Answer explanation

The Middle Passage refers to the transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

What year marked the first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans to Spain's occupied territory?

• 1619

• 1492

• 1541

• 1620

Answer explanation

The first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans to Spain's occupied territory occurred in 1541.

Smallpox, which devastated Native American populations, was introduced to the Americas as part of what?

• The Encomienda system

• The Columbian Exchange

• The Treaty of Tordesillas

• The Aztec conquest

Answer explanation

Smallpox was introduced to the Americas through the Columbian Exchange, causing devastation among Native American populations.

What was Hernán Cortés' primary goal in his expedition to the Aztec Empire?

• To establish diplomatic relations

• To convert the Aztecs to Christianity

• To conquer and claim land for Spain

• To learn about Aztec culture

Answer explanation

Hernán Cortés' primary goal in his expedition to the Aztec Empire was to convert the Aztecs to Christianity and to conquer and claim land for Spain.

Which animal, introduced to the Americas during the Columbian Exchange, had a significant impact on Native American cultures?

• Cattle

• Horse

• Sheep

• Pig

Answer explanation

The horse, introduced during the Columbian Exchange, had a significant impact on Native American cultures.