1.
Where did Christopher Columbus's ships first land?
Correct Answer
B. Bahamas
Explanation
Christopher Columbus's ships first landed in the Bahamas. This is historically accurate as Columbus made his first landfall in the New World on October 12, 1492, in what is believed to be present-day San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. This marked the beginning of Columbus's exploration and the European colonization of the Americas.
2.
What was named after Amerigo Vespucci?
Correct Answer
A. America
Explanation
America was named after Amerigo Vespucci because he was an Italian explorer who played a significant role in the early exploration and mapping of the New World. Vespucci's detailed accounts of his voyages led to the realization that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were not part of Asia, but a separate continent. German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller named the new continent "America" in his honor, as he believed Vespucci's discoveries deserved recognition. This name eventually became widely accepted and is still used today to refer to the continents of North and South America.
3.
Where did Columbus first see flamingos?
Correct Answer
C. Cuba
Explanation
Cuba is the correct answer because Columbus first saw flamingos there.
4.
This area is currently divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic?
Correct Answer
D. Hispaniola
Explanation
Hispaniola is the correct answer because it is an island in the Caribbean that is currently divided between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The island has a rich history and is known for its diverse culture, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant cities.
5.
Columbus founded this colony?
Correct Answer
D. Santo Domingo
Explanation
Santo Domingo is the correct answer because it was the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, founded by Christopher Columbus in 1496. It is located on the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
6.
Columbus learned many of his sailing skills from?
Correct Answer
B. Portuguese
Explanation
Columbus learned many of his sailing skills from the Portuguese. During his time in Portugal, he gained knowledge and experience in navigation, mapmaking, and shipbuilding. The Portuguese were known for their advancements in maritime exploration, and Columbus likely benefited from their expertise and technology. This knowledge would later play a crucial role in his own voyages across the Atlantic Ocean.
7.
The explorer who realized he had come upon a "new world" was?
Correct Answer
C. Amerigo Vespucci
Explanation
Amerigo Vespucci is the correct answer because he was an Italian explorer who realized that the land discovered by Christopher Columbus was actually a "new world" and not part of Asia, as Columbus initially believed. Vespucci's letters and accounts of his voyages provided evidence that there was a separate continent that Columbus had stumbled upon, leading to the use of the term "America" to refer to the new landmass.
8.
Columbus's first voyage to the west was financed by rulers from?
Correct Answer
D. Spain
Explanation
Columbus's first voyage to the west was financed by rulers from Spain. Spain sponsored Columbus's expedition in 1492, which eventually led to the discovery of the Americas. The Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, provided financial support to Columbus in his quest to find a western route to Asia. This support allowed Columbus to secure the necessary ships and crew for his historic journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
9.
Columbus's flagship was called the?
Correct Answer
A. Santa Maria
Explanation
Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria, was the largest of the three ships he used on his voyage to the Americas. It was a carrack, a type of sailing ship, and played a significant role in Columbus's exploration and discovery of the New World. The Santa Maria was captained by Columbus himself and served as his command center during the expedition. It is well-known in history as the ship that carried Columbus and his crew across the Atlantic Ocean and made landfall in the Bahamas in 1492.
10.
The first people Columbus's crew met were the?
Correct Answer
A. Taino
Explanation
The first people that Columbus's crew met were the Taino. The Taino were indigenous people who inhabited the Caribbean islands, including the island of Hispaniola where Columbus first landed. They were peaceful and welcoming towards the Europeans initially, but unfortunately, they were eventually subjected to colonization, slavery, and diseases brought by the Europeans, leading to their decline and eventual extinction.
11.
Ferdinand Magellan's final island stop?
Correct Answer
C. pHilippine Islands
Explanation
Ferdinand Magellan's final island stop was the Philippine Islands. After successfully crossing the Strait of Magellan, Magellan and his crew arrived at the Philippine Islands in March 1521. They were welcomed by the local ruler, Rajah Humabon, and Magellan formed alliances with several chiefs in the region. However, conflicts arose, and Magellan was killed in a battle with indigenous warriors on the island of Mactan. Despite his death, his crew continued their journey and eventually completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.
12.
This was named after a Portuguese sea captain?
Correct Answer
A. Strait of Magellan
Explanation
The correct answer is the Strait of Magellan. This strait was named after the Portuguese sea captain Ferdinand Magellan, who was the first European explorer to navigate through it in 1520. The strait is located in southern Chile and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, providing a crucial passage for trade and navigation between the two. Magellan's successful crossing of the strait proved the existence of a navigable route between the oceans and opened up new possibilities for global exploration and trade.
13.
First explorer to discover a way across America?
Correct Answer
A. Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Explanation
Vasco Nunez de Balboa is considered the first explorer to discover a way across America because in 1513, he led an expedition that crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Pacific Ocean. This discovery opened up a new route for trade and exploration between Europe and Asia, and Balboa's expedition marked the first European sighting of the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.
14.
Where Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed?
Correct Answer
C. Isthmus of Panama
Explanation
Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama. The Isthmus of Panama is a narrow strip of land that connects North and South America. Balboa, a Spanish explorer, crossed the isthmus in 1513 and became the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. This was a significant achievement as it opened up a new trade route and paved the way for future explorations and the eventual construction of the Panama Canal.
15.
The French hired him to find the Northwest Passage?
Correct Answer
D. Giovanni da Verrazano
Explanation
Giovanni da Verrazano is the correct answer because he was an Italian explorer who was hired by the French to find the Northwest Passage. Verrazano made several voyages in the early 16th century, exploring the eastern coast of North America. Although he did not find the Northwest Passage, his explorations contributed to the knowledge of the New World.
16.
The Spaniards wanted Native Americans to become?
Correct Answer
C. Catholics
Explanation
The Spaniards wanted Native Americans to become Catholics because during the time of Spanish colonization, the Catholic Church played a significant role in spreading their religion and converting indigenous populations. The Spanish believed that converting Native Americans to Catholicism was a way to "civilize" them and bring them under Spanish control. This was part of their larger mission to expand their empire and spread their religious beliefs.
17.
After the gold in the Caribbean Islands had all been mined, the Spanish turned to?
Correct Answer
D. Agriculture
Explanation
After exhausting the gold mines in the Caribbean Islands, the Spanish shifted their focus to agriculture. This was likely due to the fertile land and favorable climate in the region, which made it suitable for cultivating crops and raising livestock. Agriculture provided a sustainable source of income and resources for the Spanish, allowing them to establish plantations and farms to support their growing population and economy.
18.
John Cabot was sent to America by the king of?
Correct Answer
A. England
Explanation
John Cabot was sent to America by the king of England. This is because John Cabot was an Italian explorer who was commissioned by King Henry VII of England to explore and claim new lands for England. Cabot's voyages in the late 15th century laid the foundation for English colonization in North America.
19.
Jacques Cartier claimed present-day Canada for?
Correct Answer
C. France
Explanation
Jacques Cartier claimed present-day Canada for France. This is because Cartier was a French explorer who made several voyages to North America in the 16th century. During his expeditions, he explored and claimed territories in what is now Canada on behalf of the French crown. His explorations laid the foundation for French colonization and influence in the region, establishing France's claim over present-day Canada.
20.
The Spanish enslaved Africans and?
Correct Answer
B. Native Americans
Explanation
The Spanish enslaved Africans and Native Americans during their colonization period. This answer is correct because it accurately identifies Native Americans as one of the groups enslaved by the Spanish. The Spanish conquistadors enslaved indigenous people from the Americas, including Native Americans, in order to exploit their labor and resources for their own benefit.