Exploration Lesson Quiz

Which reason made spices especially valuable to Europeans around 1300?

• They flavored soups for celebrations

• They were used to color silk clothing

• They helped preserve food without refrigerators

• They showed wealth during royal meetings

Fill in the blank: Stories by (a)   inspired many Europeans to travel to Asia in search of wealth.

Match each route type to the best description of why explorers chose it.

• Long and dangerous across continents

• Land routes

• Inspired travel by describing riches

• Sea routes

• Often faster and safer to Asia

• Marco Polo's writings

Which goal best explains why King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella funded Christopher Columbus’s voyage?

• to build a navy base in northern Europe

• to discover new trade routes and gain wealth

• to map deserts in Africa for science

• to rescue sailors stranded in the Atlantic

Fill in the blank: Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic because he believed it would be a faster way to reach (a)   .

Columbus claimed the land he reached for Spain. Which statement best explains a possible reason he misnamed the people he met? Use clues about his route and goal.

• He thought he was near India after sailing west

• He believed Spain already owned the islands

• He met traders from China on the shore

• He followed a map that showed no oceans

Which goal was one main reason Spain sent explorers to the Americas?

• to learn new sailing directions

• to find gold and silver treasures

• to trade only with Asia markets

• to escape European climate problems

Match each Spanish action with its purpose.

• spread Catholic beliefs

• financing more voyages

• expand Spain’s empire

• building missions

• search for riches and routes

• claiming and settling land

After Columbus reached the Americas, Spain financed additional voyages mainly to

• explore more lands and claim territory

• bring European crops to deserts

• avoid wars with other countries

• teach navigation to sailors

Spanish missions in the Americas aimed to convert American Indians to

(a)