Question 1

Which statement accurately describes Mesoamerican communities after 1500 B.C.E.?
A)They were overwhelmingly nomadic.
B)They developed complex concepts of religion, art, science, and government.
C)They rarely fought with neighboring peoples.
D)They used primitive mathematics and astronomy to produce inaccurate calendars.
E)Their populations remained small by European standards.

Accepted Answer

Mesoamerican communities developed advanced civilizations with complex religious beliefs, artistic expressions, scientific achievements, and sophisticated forms of government.

Question 2

The Pueblo Revolt of 1598 permanently expelled the Spaniards from New Mexico.

Accepted Answer

The Pueblo Revolt that temporarily expelled the Spaniards from New Mexico occurred in 1680, not 1598. The Spaniards returned in 1692.

Question 3

The presence of horses greatly altered the lives of the Plains Indians in North America.

Accepted Answer

The introduction of horses by Europeans transformed the Plains Indians' way of life, enhancing their mobility, hunting efficiency, and warfare capabilities.

Question 4

Native tribes ______________ before Europeans arrived.
A)commonly fought amongst themselves
B)lived peacefully together
C)did not farm
D)were monotheistic
E)were few in number

Accepted Answer

Native tribes commonly fought amongst themselves before Europeans arrived, as conflicts over resources, territory, and power were common among different tribes.

Question 5

Spain left little cultural imprint on its former possessions in what is now the United States.

Accepted Answer

Spain left a significant cultural imprint on its former possessions in the United States, including architecture, place names, and cultural traditions, especially in areas like California, Texas, Florida, and New Mexico.

Question 6

The New World was named for the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Accepted Answer

The New World was named after Amerigo Vespucci as he was the first person to recognize that Columbus had discovered a new continent, and his name was used to differentiate it from the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa).

Question 7

The earliest arrivals in North America were the so-called Clovis peoples, named for a site in New Mexico where distinctive spear points were discovered.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the Clovis peoples were the earliest arrivals in North America.

Question 8

In less than a century after Columbus' first voyage in 1492 the disease that spread to Native American cultures resulted in the greatest loss of life in human history.

Accepted Answer

The introduction of European diseases like smallpox to Native American populations led to catastrophic mortality rates, resulting in one of the greatest population declines in human history.

Question 9

The European Renaissance era resulted in a cultural shift from a predominately religious worldview to a more secular outlook.

Accepted Answer

The European Renaissance emphasized humanism, art, science, and individualism, leading to a more secular perspective compared to the medieval period's religious focus.

Question 10

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the horse was an important part of every New World culture.

Accepted Answer

Horses were not native to the New World and were introduced by the Europeans. Therefore, they were not a part of the cultures in the New World before European arrival.

Question 11

Tenochtitlán in the fifteenth century was
A)an Aztec warrior who defeated the first Spanish troops to arrive.
B)the Aztec name given to Hernán Cortés when he arrived in present-day Mexico.
C)the capital of a sophisticated Aztec empire in Mesoamerica.
D)the name of a mountain range crossed by Cortés as he invaded Mexica.
E)an Aztec temple inhabited by Aztec nobility and priests.

Accepted Answer

Tenochtitlán was the capital of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco in what is now Mexico City. It was a sophisticated city with advanced architecture and infrastructure.

Question 12

The predominate reason for Spanish exploration in North and South America was to convert the native populations to Christianity.

Accepted Answer

The primary motivations for Spanish exploration were the search for wealth, such as gold and silver, and the expansion of Spanish territory. While converting native populations to Christianity was a goal, it was not the predominant reason.

Question 13

Which of the following statements describes the Native Americans in North America prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Western Hemisphere?
A)They inhabited diverse types of communities.
B)They lived in peace and harmony with each other and with nature.
C)They all spoke the same language.
D)They lived almost exclusively along the west coast.
E)They were nomadic loners who rarely had any family ties.

Accepted Answer

Native Americans in North America lived in a variety of communities, ranging from small nomadic groups to large, complex societies with established cities and trade networks.

Question 14

The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella united Spain.

Accepted Answer

The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 led to the unification of Spain, as it brought together two of the largest and most powerful kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula.

Question 15

The Dutch became Spain's greatest allies in their fight against the Protestant English.

Accepted Answer

The Dutch were not allies of Spain; they were actually in conflict with Spain during the Eighty Years' War, seeking independence from Spanish rule.

Question 16

The diversity of native populations in the New World can be illustrated by the more than 300 languages that they spoke.

Accepted Answer

The native populations of the New World, which includes North and South America, were incredibly diverse, with over 300 distinct languages spoken by various indigenous groups prior to European contact.

Question 17

Early Indian civilizations considered land and people sacred and did not make war or exploit the environment.

Accepted Answer

While some early Indian civilizations, such as the Indus Valley Civilization, did practice sustainable agriculture and had a reverence for nature, there is evidence of warfare and exploitation of resources in other early Indian societies, such as the Vedic civilization.

Question 18

The defeat of the Spanish Armada encouraged the English to embark upon New World colonization.

Accepted Answer

The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 reduced the threat of Spanish dominance, boosting English confidence and naval power, which encouraged them to pursue colonization in the New World.

Question 19

Which of the following statements correctly describes pre-contact Native Americans living in the Western Hemisphere?
A)All Native peoples were remarkably similar.
B)All Native peoples were hunter-gatherers.
C)Ancient Indians practiced nature-centered religions.
D)Ancient Indians shared dozens of different languages.
E)No Native peoples built towns.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements correctly describes...

Question 20

Columbus was looking for a shorter and safer route to the Far East.

Accepted Answer

Columbus sought a westward sea route to Asia to facilitate trade, believing it would be shorter and safer than the overland routes dominated by other powers.

Quiz 1: The Collision of Cultures in the 16th Century

Which statement accurately describes Mesoamerican communities after 1500 B.C.E.?