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Exploration Part 1

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which tool, improved during the Age of Discovery, helped sailors determine their direction at sea?

a)

Telescope

b)

Compass

c)

Printing press

d)

Steam engine

2.

What was one major economic motivation for European countries to explore new lands during the Age of Discovery?

a)

To find new allies

b)

To spread democracy

c)

To gain wealth through trade

d)

To escape from war

3.

Which explorer sailed for Spain and is credited with being the first European to circumnavigate the globe?

a)

Ferdinand Magellan

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Henry Hudson

d)

Vasco da Gama

4.

Who led the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire?

a)

Francisco Pizarro

b)

Hernan Cortes

c)

Amerigo Vespucci

d)

Bartolomeu Dias

5.

Explain how Prince Henry the Navigator contributed to the advancement of exploration.

a)

He invented the steam engine.

b)

He established a school for navigation and supported mapmaking.

c)

He discovered America.

d)

He led the first voyage around the world.

6.

Which of the following best describes the concept of mercantilism as it motivated European exploration?

a)

The belief in spreading democracy

b)

The idea that a nation's power depends on its wealth

c)

The desire to learn new languages

d)

The need to escape religious persecution

7.

Match the explorer to their sponsoring country: Vasco da Gama.

a)

England

b)

France

c)

Portugal

d)

Spain

8.

Which factor most helped the Spanish Conquistadors defeat the Inca Empire?

a)

Superior numbers

b)

Advanced weapons and diseases

c)

Inca alliances with other Europeans

d)

The Inca's strong navy

9.

Which of the following best describes the caravel and its importance during the Age of Discovery?

a)

A type of map used by explorers

b)

A fast, maneuverable ship that allowed longer voyages

c)

A navigational tool for measuring latitude

d)

A weapon used by conquistadors

10.

Which religious motivation drove many European explorers during the Age of Discovery?

a)

To spread Christianity

b)

To learn about Buddhism

c)

To escape from religious freedom

d)

To build new mosques

11.

Which explorer is known for exploring the St. Lawrence River and claiming land for France?

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Hernando de Soto

d)

Amerigo Vespucci

12.

Who conquered the Inca Empire for Spain?

a)

Hernan Cortes

b)

Francisco Pizarro

c)

Ferdinand Magellan

d)

Christopher Columbus

13.

Describe one way Prince Henry the Navigator improved cartography during the Age of Discovery.

a)

He created the first globe.

b)

He sponsored mapmakers to create more accurate maps.

c)

He invented the compass.

d)

He built the first caravel.

14.

How did political rivalry among European nations encourage exploration?

a)

Countries wanted to avoid contact with each other.

b)

Nations competed to claim new lands and increase their power.

c)

Leaders wanted to share resources equally.

d)

Monarchs discouraged overseas voyages.

15.

Which explorer sailed for England and searched for a northwest passage to Asia?

a)

Henry Hudson

b)

Jacques Cartier

c)

Vasco da Gama

d)

Hernando de Soto

16.

Evaluate the impact of Prince Henry the Navigator’s support for exploration on Portugal’s role in the Age of Discovery.

a)

It had little effect on Portugal’s exploration.

b)

It helped Portugal become a leader in early exploration and trade routes.

c)

It caused Portugal to avoid overseas voyages.

d)

It led to Portugal’s defeat by Spain.