Exploring the Age of Exploration in North America

What major event in 1492 marked the beginning of extensive European exploration?

• The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas

• The beginning of the Renaissance

• The fall of Constantinople

• The discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus

Which commodities entered the European luxury markets during the Age of Exploration?

• Coal and iron

• Sugar, spices, silks, chinaware, precious metals and jewels

• Timber and wool

• Grains and livestock

Which Italian city-states dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean during the 11th to 15th centuries?

• Rome, Florence, and Milan

• Palermo, Bari, and Cagliari

• Naples, Turin, and Bologna

• Venice, Genoa, and Pisa

What was the Pax Mongolica and how did it affect trade?

• A naval agreement between Mediterranean city-states

• A period of stability under Mongol rule that allowed safe trade routes across Eurasia

• A trade alliance between the Byzantine Empire and Italian merchants

• A peace treaty between European nations that facilitated trade

Which event in the 14th century significantly hindered European travel and trade?

• The Hundred Years' War

• The Black Death

• The Crusades

• The Reconquista

What was the impact of the Ottoman Empire's rise on European trade routes?

• It opened new overland routes to Asia

• It led to the decline of the spice trade

• It limited European overland commerce with the East

• It facilitated the spread of the Renaissance

Which technological advancement was crucial for the Age of Exploration?

• The telegraph

• The steam engine

• The printing press

• The magnetic compass

What was the primary purpose of the caravel ship developed by the Portuguese?

• To carry large amounts of cargo

• To serve as a warship

• To sail farther and faster, and into the wind

• To navigate shallow rivers

Which European nation first systematically encouraged maritime commerce by exploring foreign shores?

• Spain

• England

• France

• Portugal

What was the significance of Portugal rounding the southern tip of Africa in 1488?

• It confirmed the existence of a land-locked Indian Ocean

• It proved that the Indian Ocean was accessible from the Atlantic

• It led to the discovery of Australia

• It established a direct route to the Americas