Vespecci to Drake Quiz

Who was the first person to realize that the land across the Atlantic was not Asia?

• Christopher Columbus

• Ferdinand Magellan

• Amerigo Vespucci

• Marco Polo

In what year did Amerigo Vespucci depart from Cadiz on his expedition?

• 1492

• 1496

• 1499

• 1501

Which river did Vespucci mistakenly think he had reached when he discovered the Amazon River?

• Nile River

• Mississippi River

• Ganges River

• Yangtze River

What did Vespucci call the new land he discovered?

• New Asia

• New India

• New World

• New Europe

What did Vespucci use for navigation since the North Star wasn't high enough for traditional navigation?

• Compass

• Sun

• Stars and constellations in the Southern Hemisphere

• Wind patterns

What did Vespucci spot that frightened him and his crew during their exploration?

• A giant wave

• A large snake

• A fierce storm

• A pirate ship

What was Vespucci's profession before he became an explorer?

• Mapmaker and astronomer

• Sailor

• Merchant

• Soldier

What did Vespucci compare to determine the time of his observations?

• The position of the sun

• The phases of the moon

• The conjunction of the planets with the moon

• The length of the day

What did Vespucci determine about the width of the Atlantic Ocean?

• 20,000 miles

• 25,000 miles

• 30,000 miles

• 15,000 miles

What did Magellan hope to find by considering a westward route?

• A new continent

• A shorter, safer route to the spices

• A new trade partner

• A new sea route to Africa