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Worksheets

European Explorers

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Certain inventions had profound effects on exploration. Which invention helped explorers determine longitude while traveling?

a)

compass

b)

astrolabe

c)

chronometer

d)

caravel

2.

Certain inventions had profound effects on exploration. Which invention helped explorers tell which direction they were traveling?

a)

compass

b)

astrolabe

c)

chronometer

d)

caravel

3.

Certain inventions had profound effects on exploration. Which invention allowed explorers to travel farther and faster than ever before?

a)

compass

b)

astrolabe

c)

chronometer

d)

caravel

4.

Certain inventions had profound effects on exploration. Which invention helped explorers measure distances on the open ocean?

a)

compass

b)

astrolabe

c)

chronometer

d)

caravel

5.

Where did Christopher Columbus first land after his ocean voyage in 1492?

a)

the mouth of the Mississippi River

b)

South America

c)

San Salvador in the Caribbean Islands

d)

the southern tip of what is now Florida

6.

What conclusion did Columbus reach about his voyages to the New World?

a)

He believed he had found a sea route to Asia.

b)

He believed the world was flat.

c)

He believed he had found two new continents that were in his way.

d)

He was convinced he had sailed around the world.

7.

How many voyages did Columbus make to the New World?

a)

one

b)

two

c)

three

d)

four

e)

five

8.

Which explorer is known for starting a school of navigation and mapmaking?

a)

Prince Henry

b)

Bartolomeu Dias

c)

Vasco da Gama

d)

Christopher Columbus

e)

Hernando De Soto

9.

Which explorer is known for being the first European to reach the southern tip of Africa?

a)

Prince Henry

b)

Bartolomeu Dias

c)

Vasco da Gama

d)

Christopher Columbus

e)

Hernando De Soto

10.

Which explorer is known for being the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa and reach India?

a)

Prince Henry

b)

Bartolomeu Dias

c)

Vasco da Gama

d)

Christopher Columbus

e)

Hernando De Soto

11.

What goal did Christopher Columbus hope to achieve when he set sail in 1492?

a)

to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean

b)

to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing west across the Pacific Ocean

c)

to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing east across the Atlantic Ocean

d)

to find a shorter route to Asia by sailing east across the Pacific Ocean

12.

Where did the Portuguese make their voyages of discovery?

a)

along the coast of East Africa

b)

along eastern North America

c)

along eastern South America

d)

along the coast of West Africa

13.

Who was the first to circumnavigate the Earth?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Hernando de Soto

c)

Christopher Columbus

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

14.

Who was the first to discover the Americas?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Hernando de Soto

c)

Christopher Columbus

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

15.

Who was the first to see the Mississippi River?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Hernando de Soto

c)

Christopher Columbus

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

16.

Who was the first to realize the Americas were a new land, not Asia?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Hernando de Soto

c)

Christopher Columbus

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

17.

Why was Prince Henry known as "Henry the Navigator"?

a)

His influence led to the establishment of colonies in the New World.

b)

His influence led to the discovery of routes around South America.

c)

His influence led to the invention and use of new tools for exploration.

d)

His influence led to the push to find a new trade route to the west.

18.

______ conquered the Aztec Empire.

a)

Hernando de Soto

b)

Amerigo Vespucci

c)

Hernan Cortez

d)

Francisco Pizarro

19.

The explorer who conquered the Aztec empire _______.

a)

built pyramids to show the position of the stars

b)

used local indigenous tribes as allies

c)

captured Atahualpa by ambushing him

d)

encountered abandoned cities because the Aztecs had mysteriously disappeared

20.

Which explorer is known for leading the expedition that conquered the Inca Empire?

a)

Hernan Cortez

b)

Francisco Pizarro

c)

Amerigo Vespucci

d)

Hernando de Soto

21.

The explorer who eventually conquered the Inca Empire had failed in two previous attempts. He was finally successful after he _______.

a)

captured Atahualpa by ambushing him

b)

used local indigenous tribes as allies

c)

used balloons to spy on the enemy from the air

d)

crossed the Rubicon in defiance of the Senate

22.

Which country sponsored Ferdinand Magellan?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

23.

Which country sponsored Amerigo Vespucci?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

24.

Which country sponsored Vasco da Gama?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

25.

Which country sponsored Christopher Columbus?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

26.

Which country sponsored Henry Hudson?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

27.

Which country sponsored Hernando de Soto?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

28.

Which country sponsored Prince Henry the Navigator?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

29.

Which country sponsored Jacques Cartier?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

30.

Which country sponsored Bartolomeu Dias?

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

31.

He led several battles to conquer Peru and later explored the area that became the southeastern United States.

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

32.

He explored the Gulf of St. Lawrence and discovered Prince Edward Island in Canada.

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

33.

He discovered a huge bay in northern Canada, helping England claim the area.

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

34.

He sailed along the coast of Brazil and is believed to have gone partway up the Amazon River.

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

35.

How were Aztec and Inca people most significantly affected by Spanish exploration?

a)

They gained land.

b)

They migrated to new lands.

c)

They were destroyed and their civilizations ended.

d)

They found opportunities for trade with Europe.