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WorksheetsAge of Exploration Quiz
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 11mins
What was the main purpose of Christopher Columbus’s first voyage in 1492?
To find a new route to Asia
To conquer new lands for Spain
To map the coast of Africa
To search for gold in South America
What was the name of the ship used by Columbus on his first voyage?
Mayflower
Santa Maria
Golden Hind
Victoria
Christopher Columbus discovered and named San Salvador island. What does San Salvador mean?
Holy Savior
Salvation
Without Grace
Which of the following was a major motivation for European exploration during the Age of Exploration?
To spread democracy
To find new trade routes
To escape from war
To learn new languages
Why did European explorers want to find a sea route to Asia instead of traveling over land?
Land routes were blocked and dangerous
Sea travel was slower
They wanted to avoid meeting new people
Land routes were shorter
What was one effect of European exploration on the native peoples of the Americas?
They gained new lands in Europe
Many suffered from new diseases
They became rulers of Europe
They taught Europeans to sail
How did the Age of Exploration change the way people viewed the world?
People believed the world was smaller
People realized there were more continents and oceans than they thought
People stopped traveling
People thought the Earth was flat
Which of the following best explains why spices were so valuable to Europeans during the Age of Exploration?
They were used as money
They were rare in Europe and used to preserve and flavor food
They were used to build ships
They were needed for making clothes
Imagine you are a European explorer in the 1500s. What challenges might you face on a long sea voyage?
Running out of food and water
Getting lost at sea
Facing storms and diseases
All of the above
Suppose you are a king in Europe during the Age of Exploration. What reason might you have for sending explorers on dangerous journeys?
To gain wealth and new lands
To make friends with other countries
To learn new languages
To avoid paying taxes
How might the exchange of plants and animals between the Old World and the New World have changed people’s lives?
It had no effect
It introduced new foods and animals to both worlds
It made travel impossible
It stopped trade
Why do you think some explorers were remembered in history while others were not?
They made important discoveries or changed the world
They had the best ships
They were the oldest
They wrote the most letters
Imagine you are planning an exploration voyage. What would you need to consider to make your journey successful?
The route, supplies, and crew
The color of your ship
The number of flags you have
The songs you will sing
What are the 3 main reasons countries sent out explorers?
To make money, become well known, and to control land.
To find shorter routes for moving goods, to find allies to fight muslims, and to spread Catholicism.
To spread Catholicism, to make money, and to control land.
What inventions were created for exploration?
compass, latitude, longitude, maps
magnifying glass, compass, maps, tacking
compass, quadrant, tacking, triangular sail
Christopher Columbus wanted to explore for several reasons. Two of these reasons were: (choose two answers)
When did Columbus discover San Salvador island?
October 12, 1492
August 12, 1492
October 12, 1992
Indians were treated well by the explorers in some ways. What is one of those ways?
Spanish tried to force them to become Christians.
Gave them gifts of friendship to encourage them.
Spanish thought of them as slaves.
Who opposed the bad treatment of the Indians and tried to do something about it?
Christopher Columbus
The Pope
Bartolome de Las Casas
Choose the correct order of definitions for the following inventions of exploration in the same order: small triangular sail, big square sail, compass, quadrant.
allows a ship to sail into the wind, gives the ship power, allows sailors to know the direction they're sailing, helps calculate angle of the sun
gives the ship power, helps calculate angle of the sun, allows sailors to know the direction they're sailing, allows a ship to sail into the wind
allows sailors to know which direction they are sailing, allows a ship to sail into the wind, helps calculate angle of the sun, gives the ship power
What was the new type of ship capable of sailing in the open ocean?
astrolabe
compass
canoe
caravel
What is the method used by sailors called 'tacking'?
Securing the sails of the boat down by 'tacking' them so they don't move.
Turning a boat in the direction of the wind and allowing the wind to blow the boat along.
Changing the direction of a boat by turning into the wind by using a zigzag motion to move forward.
