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Early European Exploration Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz on the first European explorations after the Middle Ages. If you're a history buff like me you'll love it. It's not that difficult, so enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by GeniusBoy. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
GeniusBoy

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
17,500

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
2802

Last 3 plays: Guest 109 (10/15), NETTLES1960 (5/15), Guest 50 (4/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In the 400s A.D., the collapse of trade and savage raiders ushered in the Middle Ages in Europe. After the Middle Ages ended in the 1400s, Europeans became curious about the rest of the world and began to explore it. Which early admirer of exploration (known as the Navigator) sponsored ships to head down the coast of Africa? Hint

Bartolomeu Diaz

John Cabot

Lord Lemaitre

Prince Henry

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which country was the Navigator from? Hint

Spain

England

France

Portugal

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Question 3 of 15

3. From about 1430 onwards a new kind of a double-rigged ship was designed for long-distance voyages. It had triangular sails for sailing into the wind and square sails for sailing with the wind. This gave sailors confidence because they knew that no matter how the winds blew they could get home again. What was this kind of ship called? Hint

A galleon

A caravel

A schooner

A frigate

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Question 4 of 15

4. During the 1400s, the Portuguese explored many of the coastal districts of West Africa and began trading with the natives. The trading at first was mostly for gold and ivory but eventually the Portuguese began to trade for slaves. In which decade did they begin trading for slaves? Hint

1490s

1420s

1430s

1410s

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Question 5 of 15

5. In which year did the Portuguese first sail across the equator? Hint

1469

1473

1453

1481

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Question 6 of 15

6. In 1487, this Portuguese sailor first sailed around the tip of Africa. Who was he? Hint

Bartolomeu Diaz

Prince Henry

Vasco da Gama

Henry Prama

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Question 7 of 15

7. Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa and up to India. At last someone had discovered an all-water route to Asia. In which year did he do this? Hint

1506

1498

1483

1491

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Question 8 of 15

8. Where did Christopher Columbus grow up? Hint

Venice, Italy

Genoa, Italy

Lisbon, Portugal

Palos, Spain

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Question 9 of 15

9. How many trips did Columbus make to the New World? Hint

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which explorer discovered the Pacific Ocean (or as he called it the 'South Sea') in 1513? Hint

Ferdinand Magellan

Amerigo Vespucci

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Pedro Alvares Cabral

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which explorer, enroute to India, made such a wide swing away from Africa to avoid fierce winds, that he discovered Brazil? Hint

Pedro Alvares Cabral

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Vasco da Gama

Ferdinand Magellan

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Which mariner then went to South America to explore its coast for Portugal in 1501, and was the first to realize that this wasn't Asia at all but an entirely new continent? Hint

John Cabot

Amerigo Vespucci

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Pedro Alvares Cabral

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. Whose expedition was the first to circumnavigate the entire globe, though he himself did not complete the voyage? Hint

John Cabot

Juan Sebastian del Cano

Ferdinand Magellan

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

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Question 14 of 15

14. What did Magellan do to a native chief in the Philippines? Hint

converted him

enslaved him

killed him

saved him

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Question 15 of 15

15. Did Magellan complete his expedition round the world?

Yes

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 14 2024 : Guest 109: 10/15
Mar 18 2024 : NETTLES1960: 5/15
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 50: 4/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Prince Henry

2. Which country was the Navigator from?

Answer: Portugal

Portugal was the first European country to acquire an overseas empire.

Answer: A caravel

The caravel was much better suited to long-distance sailing and hence also exploration than other ships of the time.

Answer: 1430s

5. In which year did the Portuguese first sail across the equator?

Answer: 1473

6. In 1487, this Portuguese sailor first sailed around the tip of Africa. Who was he?

Answer: Bartolomeu Diaz

7. Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa and up to India. At last someone had discovered an all-water route to Asia. In which year did he do this?

Answer: 1498

This was the culmination of a long series of explorations and of attempts by Portuguese mariners to find a sea route to India - and further east. The Portuguese celebrated the event five hundred years later with Expo 1998 - apparently, the first international exhibition held in Portugal.

8. Where did Christopher Columbus grow up?

Answer: Genoa, Italy

Genoa was at the time an Italian city state. Though not as powerful or as rich as Venice, it had its own 'mini empire'.

9. How many trips did Columbus make to the New World?

Answer: 4

One in 1492 (of course), one in 1493, one in 1498, and one final journey in 1502.

10. Which explorer discovered the Pacific Ocean (or as he called it the 'South Sea') in 1513?

Answer: Vasco Nunez de Balboa

He was following the reports of Indians who spoke of another ocean.

11. Which explorer, enroute to India, made such a wide swing away from Africa to avoid fierce winds, that he discovered Brazil?

Answer: Pedro Alvares Cabral

He was trying to follow the lead of Vasco da Gama who had made a similar wide swing on his first journey around the tip of Africa years before that.

12. Which mariner then went to South America to explore its coast for Portugal in 1501, and was the first to realize that this wasn't Asia at all but an entirely new continent?

Answer: Amerigo Vespucci

Impressed by his realization a German mapmaker named the new continent 'America' after Amerigo Vespucci.

13. Whose expedition was the first to circumnavigate the entire globe, though he himself did not complete the voyage?

Answer: Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan was killed in the Philippines, but his expedition completed the journey.

14. What did Magellan do to a native chief in the Philippines?

Answer: converted him

He converted the chief to the Catholic faith.

15. Did Magellan complete his expedition round the world?

Answer: No

Anxious to help the chief he had just converted in the Philippines, Magellan decided to become involved in a local war against the chief's enemies to display the power Spain and thereby demonstrate the power of their God. His forces were met with a hail of bamboo spears and Magellan was killed.

Source: Author GeniusBoy

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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