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Columbus and the Age of Exploration

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why is Christopher Columbus such an important historical figure?

a)

He proved once and for all that the earth is round

b)

His discovery led to the colonization of the Americas

c)

He opened up a new trade route to Asia

d)

He was the greatest mapmaker of his time

2.

What was Columbus's primary motivation for his voyage across the Atlantic?

a)

The desire for riches and power

b)

Devotion to the Spanish King and Queen

c)

His interest in geography

d)

The chance to explore new territories

3.

Which country sponsored Christopher Columbus's voyage to America?

a)

Spain

b)

France

c)

England

d)

Portugal

4.

Name this device used by explorers.

a)

An astrolabe

b)

A compass

c)

Telescope

d)

A sandglass timer

5.

A new type of ship that was strong, maneuverable, and able to sail against the wind

a)

Pirate Ship

b)

Caravel

c)

Canoe

d)

Viking Boat 

6.

- Invention of the compass and astrolabe

- European dependence on spices from Asia

- Rise of nation-states in Europe

These developments influenced the start of the

a)

Crusades

b)

Renaissance

c)

Age of Exploration

d)

Reformation

7.

Why did Europeans begin to explore?

a)

They wanted a new route instead of the Silk Road

b)

a sea route to Asia would make purchasing goods easier and cheaper

c)

Europeans wanted to spread Christianity

d)

all of the above

8.

The journeys of Vasco da Gama, Bartholomeu Dias, and Christopher Columbus became possible in the late 1400s because of the

a)

support of exploration by the English government

b)

trade connections established by Ibn Battuta

c)

effects of the Atlantic slave trade

d)

development of new navigational instruments and technology

9.

A fast ship that was able to sail with and against the wind:

a)

Triangular Trade

b)

The Printing Press

c)

The Caravel

d)

The Astrolabe

10.

An invention that sailors used to find what direction they were going was called:

a)

The Magnetic Compass

b)

The Caravel

c)

The Northwest Passage

d)

The Renaissance Period

11.

What were the name of the Spanish soldiers that colonized South America and took over lands of the Mayas, Aztec and Incas? 

a)

Tainos

b)

Redcoats

c)

Conquistadors

d)

The Rough Riders

12.

Spanish explorer who claimed lands in America for Spain

a)

conquistador

b)

czar

c)

presidio

d)

creole

e)

mestizo

13.

in Spain's American colonies, a person of mixed Spanish and Indian background

a)

conquistador

b)

czar

c)

presidio

d)

creole

e)

mestizo

14.

a religious settlement run by Catholic priests and friars that was used to spread religion

a)

pueblo

b)

mission

c)

presidio

d)

shrewd

e)

hesitate

15.

This conquistador conquered the Aztecs and caused their leader, Moctezuma, to die.

a)

Hernado Cortez

b)

Bartolome de Las Casas

c)

Father Eusebio Francisco Kino

16.

What religion were the Spanish missionaries trying to spread?

a)

Judaism

b)

Hinduism

c)

Christianity

d)

None of these

17.
What was the name of the Aztec capital city?
a)
Oaxaca
b)
Tluxpan
c)
Tenochtitlan
d)
Tlaxcala
18.

Which explorer conquered the Incan empire?

a)

Francisco Coronado

b)

Francisco Pizarro

c)

Cabeza de Vaca

d)

Hernan Cortes