Question 1

​The astrolabe was a navigational tool that was invented by the Greeks but later perfected by the Portuguese.

Accepted Answer

The astrolabe was indeed invented by the Greeks, but it was further developed by medieval Muslim astronomers and navigators before being introduced to Europe by the Portuguese.

Question 2

​The Treaty of Tordesillas _____.
A)divided the territory of the New World between Spain and Portugal
B)established the pope as the arbiter of international disputes
C)​ended the war in Granada in favor of Spain
D)​put a halt to the Inquisition

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, divided the territory of the New World between Spain and Portugal, with Spain gaining the majority of North and Central America, while Portugal gained Brazil and parts of Africa.

Question 3

​The exploration and settlement of the Atlantic world was fueled by _____.
A)the quest for adventure
B)religion
C)​the rise of the nation-state
D)​All of these choices.

Accepted Answer

The exploration and settlement of the Atlantic world was fueled by a combination of factors, including the quest for adventure, religious motivations, and the rise of the nation-state. Therefore, all of these choices are correct.

Question 4

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci described the continent he encountered in his travels as the "New World."​

Accepted Answer

Amerigo Vespucci is credited with being the first person to realize that the land he encountered during his explorations was not Asia, but a previously unknown continent. He named it "Mundus Novus" meaning "New World" in Latin.

Question 5

​Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agree to fund Columbus's expedition?
A)They had just lost Granada and needed to find new colonies to replace it.
B)They feared the Italians would back Columbus if Spain did not.
C)​They resented Portugal's domination of the slave trade.
D)​They hoped it would yield new ways to rebuild Spain's depleted financial resources.

Accepted Answer

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella hoped Columbus's expedition would find a new trade route to Asia, which could bring wealth and resources to Spain, helping to rebuild its financial resources.

Question 6

The two nations that dominated exploration from 1491 to 1600 were Portugal and Spain.​

Accepted Answer

Portugal and Spain were the two main European powers that engaged in exploration during the period from 1491 to 1600, commonly known as the Age of Discovery. They sent numerous expeditions to explore and colonize new territories in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, establishing vast empires that brought significant wealth and power to their countries. Other nations, such as England, France, and the Netherlands, eventually joined the race to explore and conquer foreign lands, but Portugal and Spain were the primary players during the early years of the Age of Discovery.

Question 7

King John II declined to support Columbus's voyage because his advisors thought Columbus miscalculated the distance to Asia.​

Accepted Answer

This is a historical fact, as King John II of Portugal declined to support Columbus's voyage because his advisors believed that Columbus had miscalculated the distance to Asia and that his proposal was unrealistic.

Question 8

Columbus never stopped believing that he had found the Orient in his travels.​

Accepted Answer

Columbus was convinced that he had found a new route to the Orient and continued to refer to the people he encountered as "Indians," thinking he had reached the Indian Ocean.

Question 9

​Which of the following explorers did not set out in search of the Northwest Passage?
A)John Cabot
B)Giovanni da Verrazzano
C)​Henry the Navigator
D)​Jacques Cartier

Accepted Answer

Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese explorer who focused on navigating the west coast of Africa, instead of searching for the Northwest Passage. John Cabot, Giovanni da Verrazzano, and Jacques Cartier were all European explorers who attempted to find a passage through North America.

Question 10

John Cabot established the Northwest Passage in 1497.​

Accepted Answer

While John Cabot did explore the coast of North America, he did not establish the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic that was not successfully navigated until many years later.

Question 11

​What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?
A)Texcoco
B)Teotihuacán
C)​Tenochtitlán
D)​Tampico
E)Tijuana

Accepted Answer

The capital city of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlán, located in what is now modern-day Mexico City.

Question 12

​Which European nation was the early leader in exploration?
A)Spain
B)Portugal
C)​England
D)​Italy

Accepted Answer

Portugal was the early leader in exploration, with explorers such as Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan paving the way for European exploration and colonization of new territories.

Question 13

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci named the new continent he "discovered" after himself,calling it "America."​

Accepted Answer

The name "America" was suggested by Martin Waldseemüller, a German cartographer, who used it on a world map in 1507 to honor Amerigo Vespucci, believing Vespucci had discovered the new continent.

Question 14

​Which of the following was the most important motivation for European exploration of the Atlantic World?
A)The desire to increase trade  
B)The quest for slaves
C)​The thirst for gold and other precious metals
D)​The need to move surplus population from Europe

Accepted Answer

The desire to increase trade was the most important motivation for European exploration of the Atlantic World. European merchants and monarchs sought new routes and markets for their goods, especially for spices and luxury items from Asia. The discovery of the Americas also opened up possibilities for new trade in raw materials and resources. The other options, such as the quest for slaves, thirst for gold and other precious metals, and the need to move surplus population from Europe, were secondary motivations that developed later as Europeans explored and colonized the Americas.

Question 15

​After months at sea,Columbus first spotted what we now know as Cuba on October 12,1492.

Accepted Answer

Columbus first spotted land in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. He arrived at what we now know as Cuba later, on October 28, 1492.

Question 16

​Caravels facilitated increased exploration because they _____.
A)were larger and more solid than typical ships
B)could maneuver in various types of waterways
C)​could better accommodate crews on long voyages
D)​All of these choices.

Accepted Answer

Caravels were highly maneuverable and could navigate not only the open ocean but also shallow coastal waters and rivers, making them ideal for exploration. They were not necessarily larger or designed to better accommodate crews for long voyages in terms of living conditions.

Question 17

​Henry "the Navigator" is significant to this era because _____.
A)his quest to explore Africa's treasures ultimately established Portugal's early dominance there
B)he developed the astrolabe,a key navigational tool that aided future explorers
C)​he led an expedition that reclaimed Granada for Spain
D)​his discovery of gold in the Azores enriched Portugal

Accepted Answer

Henry "the Navigator" is known for sponsoring voyages along the African coast which led to the establishment of Portuguese outposts and trading relationships in the region, laying the foundation for Portugal's early dominance in Africa.

Question 18

In the early sixteenth century,the pope decided the terms of settlement and exploration of the New World.​

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, mediated by Pope Alexander VI, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. This effectively decided the terms of settlement and exploration of the New World by granting Spain the rights to explore and settle the Americas (excluding Brazil) and Portugal the same for Africa and Asia, along with Brazil.

Question 19

​Which of these factors contributed to increased exploration by the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?
A)New developments in shipbuilding
B)Increased used of lateen sails
C)​Updated versions of astrolabes
D)​All of these choices.

Accepted Answer

All of the choices contributed to increased exploration. New developments in shipbuilding allowed for larger and more sturdy ships, increasing the range of voyages. The use of lateen sails allowed for ships to sail more effectively against the wind, increasing navigational capabilities. Updated versions of astrolabes allowed for more accurate measurements of latitude, aiding in navigation.

Question 20

​Pueblo Indians were descendants of which of the following?
A)Chaco
B)Anasazi
C)​Hopi
D)​Aztecs
E)​Zuni

Accepted Answer

Pueblo Indians are direct descendants of the Anasazi culture that originated in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States around 1200 BC. The Pueblo people were named by the Spanish for the communal dwellings called pueblos that they lived in. The Hopi and Zuni are also Pueblo tribes, but they are not ancestors to the Pueblo people. The Aztecs, on the other hand, were a completely different indigenous group that originated in Mexico.

Quiz 1: The Atlantic World and the Dawn of Exploration, 1492-1535

​The astrolabe was a navigational tool that was invented by the Greeks but later perfected by the Portuguese.

​The Treaty of Tordesillas _____.

​The exploration and settlement of the Atlantic world was fueled by _____.

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci described the continent he encountered in his travels as the "New World."​

​Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agree to fund Columbus's expedition?

The two nations that dominated exploration from 1491 to 1600 were Portugal and Spain.​

King John II declined to support Columbus's voyage because his advisors thought Columbus miscalculated the distance to Asia.​

Columbus never stopped believing that he had found the Orient in his travels.​

​Which of the following explorers did not set out in search of the Northwest Passage?

John Cabot established the Northwest Passage in 1497.​

​What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?

​Which European nation was the early leader in exploration?

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci named the new continent he "discovered" after himself,calling it "America."​

​Which of the following was the most important motivation for European exploration of the Atlantic World?

​After months at sea,Columbus first spotted what we now know as Cuba on October 12,1492.

​Caravels facilitated increased exploration because they _____.

​Henry "the Navigator" is significant to this era because _____.

In the early sixteenth century,the pope decided the terms of settlement and exploration of the New World.​

​Which of these factors contributed to increased exploration by the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?

​Pueblo Indians were descendants of which of the following?

The astrolabe was a navigational tool that was invented by the Greeks but later perfected by the Portuguese.

The Treaty of Tordesillas _____.

The exploration and settlement of the Atlantic world was fueled by _____.

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci described the continent he encountered in his travels as the "New World."

Why did King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agree to fund Columbus's expedition?

The two nations that dominated exploration from 1491 to 1600 were Portugal and Spain.

King John II declined to support Columbus's voyage because his advisors thought Columbus miscalculated the distance to Asia.

Columbus never stopped believing that he had found the Orient in his travels.

Which of the following explorers did not set out in search of the Northwest Passage?

John Cabot established the Northwest Passage in 1497.

What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire?

Which European nation was the early leader in exploration?

Explorer Amerigo Vespucci named the new continent he "discovered" after himself,calling it "America."

Which of the following was the most important motivation for European exploration of the Atlantic World?

After months at sea,Columbus first spotted what we now know as Cuba on October 12,1492.

Caravels facilitated increased exploration because they _____.

Henry "the Navigator" is significant to this era because _____.

In the early sixteenth century,the pope decided the terms of settlement and exploration of the New World.

Which of these factors contributed to increased exploration by the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?

Pueblo Indians were descendants of which of the following?