Question 1

What was the primary motivation of European mariners in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries?

Accepted Answer

The primary motivation for European mariners during this period was to gain economic wealth, primarily through the discovery of new trade routes and access to valuable resources such as spices, gold, and other goods.

Question 2

What method of transport carried the greatest volume of goods in Inner Eurasia?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

The Strait of Melaka connects the South China Sea with the

Accepted Answer

The Strait of Melaka connects the South China Sea with the Bay of Bengal.

Question 4

Which city, founded by the ruler of Singapore, has a protected harbor and emerged as a magnet of seaborne commerce in the fifteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Melaka (Malacca) was founded by Parameswara, the last king of Singapura (now Singapore) in the 14th century. It quickly emerged as a significant maritime trading center in the 15th century due to its strategic location on the Strait of Malacca, serving as a vital port for ships traveling between China and India as well as the islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Its protected harbor made it a magnet for seaborne commerce.

Question 5

The Muslim state of Gujarat successfully broke away from ________, South Asia's largest land empire.

Accepted Answer

The Muslim state of Gujarat successfully broke away from the Sultanate of Delhi, which was South Asia's largest land empire at the time. This occurred during a period of decline for the Delhi Sultanate, allowing various regions to assert their independence.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT connected to the Arabian Sea?

Accepted Answer

The Strait of Melaka is not connected to the Arabian Sea; it is located between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean, but not directly to the Arabian Sea.

Question 7

Which of the following generally had smaller populations and fewer cities in the early fifteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Western Europe generally had smaller populations and fewer cities compared to India, China, and the central Muslim lands in the early fifteenth century. This period was before the significant urban and population growth that characterized Europe after the late medieval period.

Question 8

Before 1350, European merchants were able to travel overland to the Middle East and Far East, but that ended. Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Before 1350, European merchants were able to...

Question 9

Which of the following was NOT a major cluster of dense agrarian populations facing the Atlantic Ocean?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following was NOT a...

Question 10

The relatively narrow waterway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea is known as the

Accepted Answer

The Strait of Gibraltar is the narrow waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, separating Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa.

Question 11

Who were the original settlers of the Canaries?

Accepted Answer

The original settlers of the Canary Islands were migrants from North Africa, specifically Berber people from the region that is now Morocco.

Question 12

The savanna region just south of the Sahara, known historically as the ________, had a long tradition of monarchy.

Accepted Answer

The term "the Western Sudan" historically refers to the savanna region just south of the Sahara, which had a long tradition of monarchy. This area is distinct from the modern country of Sudan and included several historical kingdoms and empires, such as Ghana, Mali, and Songhai, which were known for their complex social structures and monarchies.

Question 13

Kongolese weavers produced large quantities of textiles for regional markets. What were these textiles made from?

Accepted Answer

Kongolese weavers traditionally used palm fronds to produce textiles for regional markets.

Question 14

What was the basic staple that sustained growing populations and complex settlements from Canada to the southern Andes in the fifteenth century?

Accepted Answer

Maize, also known as corn, was the fundamental staple crop that supported the expansion of populations and the development of complex societies throughout the Americas, from Canada to the southern Andes, by the fifteenth century.

Question 15

The Mesoamerican civilization known today as the Aztec empire was centered in

Accepted Answer

The Aztec Empire was primarily centered in the Valley of Mexico, where their capital city, Tenochtitlan, was located.

Question 16

How did the Inca record information about social and economic conditions?

Accepted Answer

The Inca used a system of knotted and colored strings known as quipus (or khipus) to record information, including social and economic data.

Question 17

By 1520 the Inca empire was ________ Spain and Portugal combined.

Accepted Answer

The Inca empire was more than three times as large as Spain and Portugal combined.

Question 18

What ignited interest in a South Atlantic route to Indian Ocean ports?

Accepted Answer

The rise of Ottoman power in the eastern Mediterranean disrupted traditional trade routes to Asia, prompting European powers to seek alternative paths to the Indian Ocean ports, leading to increased interest in a South Atlantic route.

Question 19

Prince Henry of Portugal dedicated much of his career to

Accepted Answer

The answer of Prince Henry of Portugal dedicated much of...

Question 20

What Iberian region emerged as a creative center for mapmaking, navigational charts, and nautical instruments?

Accepted Answer

Catalonia, particularly during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, became a significant center for cartography and nautical science, contributing to the Age of Exploration with its advancements in mapmaking and navigational tools.

Quiz 17: Oceans Crossed, Worlds Connected, 1450-1550