Age of Exploration: Key Concepts

The Age of Exploration, spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, marked a period of European global exploration driven by the quest for new trade routes, wealth, and knowledge. This era led to significant geographical discoveries, including the Americas, and the establishment of trade networks and colonies. It also spurred advancements in navigation and mapping, transforming geography into a modern science. The legacy of this period includes the expansion of empires, cultural exchanges, and the complex history of colonization and exploitation.

What was one of the main reasons Europeans began exploring during the Age of Exploration?

• To escape from political conflicts in Europe

• To locate new trade routes for spices and silk

• To discover new species of animals

• To find new lands for settlement

Which empire's control of Constantinople in 1453 significantly impacted European trade routes?

• The Mongol Empire

• The Byzantine Empire

• The Ottoman Empire

• The Roman Empire

Who was the explorer that discovered the island of San Salvador in 1492?

• John Cabot

• Christopher Columbus

• Vasco da Gama

• Ferdinand Magellan

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?

• A treaty ending the war between England and France

• An agreement dividing the New World between Spain and Portugal

• An agreement to share trade routes with the Ottoman Empire

• A pact to explore the Arctic regions

Which explorer is known for reaching the Newfoundland Shore in 1497?

• Giovanni da Verrazzano

• John Cabot

• Christopher Columbus

• Henry Hudson

Which European country established the first permanent colony in North America in 1607?

• Holland

• Spain

• France

• England

What technological advancement helped bring the Age of Exploration to an end?

• The invention of the steam engine

• The development of more accurate maps and navigation tools

• The discovery of electricity

• The creation of the printing press

Which explorer is credited with advancing navigation and mapping methods during the Age of Exploration?

• Prince Henry the Navigator

• Christopher Columbus

• John Cabot

• Ferdinand Magellan

What was one of the significant contributions of the Age of Exploration to science?

• The creation of the first nautical maps

• The development of the theory of relativity

• The discovery of the laws of motion

• The invention of the telescope

Which of the following was a new food introduced to Europeans as a result of the Age of Exploration?

• Wheat

• Maize

• Potatoes

• Rice