Question 1

The European explorer who reached the Grand Canyon was
A)Francisco de Coronado.
B)Amerigo Vespucci.
C)Francisco Pizarro.
D)Hernan Cortés.
E)Prince Henry

Accepted Answer

Francisco de Coronado led an expedition in 1540 to find the seven cities of gold. While he did not find the gold, his journey led him to the Grand Canyon.

Question 2

The nation that led the way for European expansion into the Americas was
A)France.
B)England.
C)China.
D)Portugal.
E)Spain

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

The major source of wealth exploited by the Spaniards in the Americas was
A)gold.
B)silver.
C)tobacco.
D)cotton.
E)iron

Accepted Answer

The major source of wealth exploited by the Spaniards in the Americas was silver. The Spanish empire established massive silver mines in present-day Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, which produced a steady supply of precious metals. These resources were shipped back to Spain and used to fund the empire's military campaigns and economic expansion.

Question 4

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Indian societies of the Americas
A)were all primitive, nomadic hunters and gatherers.
B)were democratic cultures in which all members, including women, could vote.
C)used bronze and iron for tools and weapons.
D)had all developed a written language.
E)were Stone Age cultures

Accepted Answer

The statement "Stone Age cultures" is the only accurate description among the choices given. The Indian societies of the Americas did not have bronze or iron tools and weapons, nor did they have a widespread system of written language. They also did not all have democratic systems of government or equal voting rights for women.

Question 5

Most European Christians viewed the Indians as
A)innocent, childlike people who should be left alone.
B)descendants of the ancient survivors of the lost continent of Atlantis.
C)soulless savages.​
D)sophisticated people who were morally and ethically superior to the inhabitants of Asia and Europe.
E)one of the lost tribes of Israel.

Accepted Answer

Most Europeans viewed the indigenous people of the Americas as uncivilized and in need of conversion to Christianity. This view was based on the assumption that the Indian's lack of Christianity made them "soulless," and thus inferior to Europeans in terms of morality and civilization. This attitude was reflected in the brutal treatment of Native Americans by European colonizers.

Question 6

Each of the following could be referred to as a conquistador except
A)Hernán Cortés.
B)Francisco Pizarro.
C)Vasco da Gama.
D)Francisco de Coronado.
E)Hernando de Soto

Accepted Answer

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and navigator who did not participate in the Spanish conquests of the Americas. The other options were all Spanish conquistadors who played significant roles in the conquest and colonization of the Americas.

Question 7

The system of labor control that allowed a person to exploit the labor force for a certain period of time was called
A)hacienda.
B)encomienda.
C)bandeirante.
D)requerimiento.
E)casa grande

Accepted Answer

The system of labor control that allowed a person to exploit the labor force for a certain period of time was called encomienda. It was used in Spanish America and involved the granting of indigenous labor and tribute rights to individual conquistadores.

Question 8

The society that was able to build complex agricultural systems at 12,000 feet above sea level -- an unheard of task -- was
A)Andean
B)Mayan
C)Aztec
D)Incan
E)African

Accepted Answer

The Andean society was able to build complex agricultural systems at 12,000 feet above sea level.

Question 9

Human habitation of the Americas began approximately
A)500,000 years ago.
B)100,000 years ago.
C)15,000 years ago.
D)5,000 years ago.
E)500 years ago.

Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted theory is that humans migrated from Asia to North America via a land bridge (known as Beringia) during the last glacial period, which ended approximately 10,000-12,000 years ago. This puts the beginning of human habitation of the Americas at approximately 15,000 years ago.

Question 10

In the period 1530 to 1630, the population of Mexico and Peru decreased by nearly
A)10 percent.
B)30 percent.
C)60 percent.
D)90 percent.
E)100 percent

Accepted Answer

The population of Mexico and Peru decreased by nearly 90 percent from 1530 to 1630, primarily due to diseases brought by Europeans, such as smallpox, which indigenous populations had no immunity against, combined with the harsh conditions of forced labor.

Question 11

The early Native American civilization to leave detailed written records of their activities were the
A)Aztec.
B)Texaca.
C)Cherokee
D)Olmec.
E)Maya.

Accepted Answer

The Maya civilization were the only option listed to have left detailed written records of their activities. They developed a complex system of hieroglyphic writing which was used for religious, historical, and administrative purposes. Their written records include inscriptions on stone monuments, books made of bark paper, and pottery.

Question 12

Who of the following was the conqueror of the Inca empire?
A)Francisco Pizarro
B)Hernán Cortés
C)Francisco de Coronado
D)Vasco da Gama
E)Bishop de las Casas.

Accepted Answer

Francisco Pizarro was the conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of the Inca empire in the early 16th century. Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec empire in present-day Mexico, Francisco de Coronado explored the American Southwest, Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who reached India, and Bishop de las Casas was a Spanish missionary who advocated for the rights of indigenous people in the Americas.

Question 13

The most likely reason for European success in conquering the American Indian population is
A)the prolonged isolation of the Americas from the rest of the world.
B)the superiority of European civilizations.
C)the warlike savagery of the Europeans.
D)the passivity of Native Americans.
E)the success of the priests in converting them to Christianity.

Accepted Answer

The prolonged isolation of the Americas from the rest of the world led to a lack of immunity among the Native American populations to diseases brought by Europeans, which decimated their numbers and contributed significantly to European success in conquests.

Question 14

The Chinese developed all of the following except
A)movable type.
B)gunpowder.
C)paper money.
D)the compass.
E)a complex political system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Chinese developed all of the following...

Question 15

The crusades influenced European expansion by
A)establishing permanent Christian control of the holy city of Jerusalem.
B)demonstrating that the Arab nations of the East were weak and easily defeated.
C)developing a colonial economic system based on the production of staple crops by slave labor.
D)discouraging trade with Asian and African nations.
E)providing slaves for the plantations in the Caribbean.

Accepted Answer

The Crusades influenced European expansion by fostering a colonial economic mindset, where Europeans began to see the potential for wealth through the establishment and control of colonies. This mindset eventually led to the development of economies based on the production of staple crops by slave labor, particularly in the New World.

Question 16

The early civilizations of America were basically ____ age cultures.
A)bronze
B)stone
C)wood
D)iron
E)agricultural

Accepted Answer

The early civilizations of America were primarily characterized by stone age cultures, meaning they relied on stone tools and weapons rather than more advanced materials like bronze or iron. This is evidenced by archaeological findings of stone tools and artwork from these early civilizations. While agriculture was certainly an important aspect of these cultures, it does not necessarily define them in the same way that their use of stone does. Wood was also used extensively by these civilizations, but again, it is not the defining characteristic.

Question 17

The leader of the Aztecs at the time of their defeat in 1519 was
A)Atahualpa.
B)Moctezuma.
C)Tenochtitlan.
D)Texcoco.
E)Geronimo.

Accepted Answer

The leader of the Aztecs at the time of their defeat in 1519 was Moctezuma. Atahualpa was the leader of the Incas in Peru and was defeated by the Spanish in 1533. Tenochtitlan was the capital city of the Aztecs. Texcoco was a city-state in the Aztec Empire. Geronimo was a Native American leader who lived in the United States in the 1800s.

Question 18

The most devastating factor brought to the Americas by the Europeans was
A)the horse
B)gunpowder.
C)cannon.
D)bronze weaponry.
E)disease.

Accepted Answer

The most devastating factor brought to the Americas by the Europeans was disease. Smallpox, measles, and other diseases brought by the Europeans swept through the native populations, killing off an estimated 90% of the population in some areas. This had a profound and lasting impact on the native cultures, societies, and economies of the Americas. The arrival of the Europeans and the diseases they brought with them is considered one of the greatest tragedies in human history. The other choices—horses, gunpowder, cannon, and bronze weaponry—had significant impacts on the Americas, but not to the same degree as disease.

Question 19

In 1400, western European society was
A)self-sufficient and had no interest in trading with Asia.
B)primarily interested in importing gold and silver from Russia.
C)backward and isolated when compared with Chinese and Islamic societies.
D)scientifically and mathematically the most advanced culture in the world.
E)not influenced by religion.

Accepted Answer

At the time, Western Europe was not as scientifically or mathematically advanced as Islamic or Chinese societies. They were also not self-sufficient and were engaged in trade with other regions.

Question 20

Unlike Spain in the Americas, Portugal in Brazil did not attempt to rule the Indian population directly, but attempted to
A)use it as labor.
B)remove it to Portugal.
C)enslave and eventually replace it.
D)Christianize it
E)exterminate it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Unlike Spain in the Americas, Portugal in...

Quiz 1: When Old Worlds Collide: Contact, Conquest, Catastrophe

The European explorer who reached the Grand Canyon was

The nation that led the way for European expansion into the Americas was

The major source of wealth exploited by the Spaniards in the Americas was

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Indian societies of the Americas

Most European Christians viewed the Indians as

Each of the following could be referred to as a conquistador except

The system of labor control that allowed a person to exploit the labor force for a certain period of time was called

The society that was able to build complex agricultural systems at 12,000 feet above sea level -- an unheard of task -- was

Human habitation of the Americas began approximately

In the period 1530 to 1630, the population of Mexico and Peru decreased by nearly

The early Native American civilization to leave detailed written records of their activities were the

Who of the following was the conqueror of the Inca empire?

The most likely reason for European success in conquering the American Indian population is

The Chinese developed all of the following except

The crusades influenced European expansion by

The early civilizations of America were basically ____ age cultures.

The leader of the Aztecs at the time of their defeat in 1519 was

The most devastating factor brought to the Americas by the Europeans was

In 1400, western European society was

Unlike Spain in the Americas, Portugal in Brazil did not attempt to rule the Indian population directly, but attempted to