wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

European Exploration and Settlement

Total questions: 30

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Who was Marco Polo?
a)
Italian merchant that explored China
b)
Spanish Explorer in the Americas
c)
French Explorer in Canada
d)
Dutch Merchant in New York
2.
How did Marco Polo inspire others to explore the world?
a)
Invented a game to play in a pool
b)
Wrote a book about his travels
c)
He claimed China for Italy
d)
He brought back spices from China
3.
What was the main motivation of European exploration? 
a)
Lesiure
b)
Profit
c)
Slaves
4.
What is the Columbian Exchange?
a)
Bartering system involving slaves
b)
system of money started by Columbus
c)
transfer of crops, animals, people, and diseases
d)
the bank of Christopher Columbus
5.
What was the Columbian Exchanges long-term effects on Native Americans? 
a)
Many became slaves for the Spanish
b)
They no longer owned land
c)
90 % of the American Indians died
6.
What was the goal of the FIRST European explorers?
a)
to seal gold
b)
to find the northwest passage
c)
to find a water route to Asia
d)
to stay alive
7.
Why did slaves traders begin sending African slaves to the Americas?
a)
to replace the American Indian slaves
b)
because the King told them to
c)
as the population grew more people were needed
d)
conquistadors sold them to the traders
8.
What was the goal of the Spanish missionaries who came to the Americas?
a)
to teach native people Spanish
b)
to educate the native people
c)
convert the native people to Christanity
d)
to teach the native people French
9.
What were some positive consequences of the Columbian  Exchange?
a)
New diseases
b)
Slaves to work the land
c)
Domesticated Animals
10.
What were some negative consequences of the Columbian Exchange? 
a)
New foods
b)
New diseases
c)
Domesticated Animals
11.

How did native Americans acquire guns?

a)

Stealing them from the Europeans

b)

Through trade with the French and Dutch

c)

By raiding an armory

d)

They made guns from their natural resources

12.

What motivated the Spanish to explore the New World?

a)

Fur

b)

Gold

c)

Friendship

d)

God

13.

What motivated the French to explore the New World?

a)

Fur

b)

Gold

c)

Friendship

d)

God

14.

What motivated the French to explore the New World?

a)

Friends, Fur, Fish

b)

God, God, Glory

c)

Freedom of Religion, Get rich, Northwest Passage

15.

What type of settlements did the Spanish set up in the New World?

a)

Trading Posts

b)

Plantations and Missions

c)

Trading Posts, Towns, and Plantations

16.

What type of settlements did the French set up in the New World?

a)

Trading Posts

b)

Plantations and Missions

c)

Trading Posts, Towns, and Plantations

17.

What type of settlements did the English set up in the New World?

a)

Trading Posts

b)

Plantations and Missions

c)

Trading Posts, Towns, and Plantations

18.

Which statement best summarizes the Spanish's treatment of the native people?

a)

The Spanish forged a friendship with the native people and traded for desired supplies while learning about the native people's culture. They learned the native people's language and joined into their tribes.

b)

The Spanish viewed the native people as inferior to them so they forced them to give up their land, traded for goods unfairly, forced their religion on the natives, and often had violent encounters.

c)

The Spanish came in with soldiers to explore the New World. They destroyed the native people's culture, murdered their leaders, took the natives land, forced them to accept the Catholic faith. They brought the native people back to England and enslaved them.

19.

Which statement best summarizes the French's treatment of the native people?

a)

The French forged a friendship with the native people and traded for desired supplies while learning about the native people's culture. They learned the native people's language and joined into their tribes.

b)

The French viewed the native people as inferior to them so they forced them to give up their land, traded for goods unfairly, forced their religion on the natives, and often had violent encounters.

c)

The French came in with soldiers to explore the New World. They destroyed the native people's culture, murdered their leaders, took the natives land, forced them to accept the Catholic faith. They brought the native people back to England and enslaved them.

20.

Which statement best summarizes the English's treatment of the native people?

a)

The English forged a friendship with the native people and traded for desired supplies while learning about the native people's culture. They learned the native people's language and joined into their tribes.

b)

The English viewed the native people as inferior to them so they forced them to give up their land, traded for goods unfairly, forced their religion on the natives, and often had violent encounters.

c)

The English came in with soldiers to explore the New World. They destroyed the native people's culture, murdered their leaders, took the natives land, forced them to accept the Catholic faith. They brought the native people back to England and enslaved them.

21.
America was first known as the ______________ to Europeans. 
a)
United States
b)
New World
c)
Atlanta
d)
Canada
22.
What is the Spanish word for conqueror?
a)
technology
b)
conquistador
c)
settlement
d)
circumnavigate
23.

A person who spreads his or her religious beliefs to others

a)

caravel

b)

missionary

c)

explore

d)

colony

24.
Europeans were trying to find a water route to __________________, they thought that this would make their country rich with its silk, spices, and treasures. 
a)
Asia
b)
America
c)
Antartica
d)
Australia
25.
A device used in early navigation to chart the position of stars
a)
Compass
b)
Astrolabe
c)
Caravels
d)
Magnets
26.
Why were Europeans immune to diseases they brought to the Americas?
a)
100s of years of exposure
b)
New vaccinations
c)
Religious practices
d)
Innovative doctors
27.
What European nation was first to begin exploration?
a)
England
b)
France
c)
Portugal
d)
Spain
28.
What was the lighweight ship with triangular sails?
a)
caravel
b)
cog
c)
galleon
d)
cargo
29.
Which instrument was used to tell wind direction, a ship's course, and time of day by using a magnetic needle?
a)
Astrolabe
b)
Compass
c)
Caravel
d)
Sun Dial
30.
Along with navigational devices, what improved Europeans' ability to navigate the open waters, thereby allowing them to dominate travel and trade?
a)
Use of gunpowder
b)
Improved mapmaking and sea charts
c)
Spread of cultural beliefs
d)
Military domination