Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Among the earliest explorers recorded in history, Himilco and Hanno lived between the 6th and the 5th centuries BC. Both earned the epithet of "the Navigator" for their voyages of exploration beyond the Mediterranean Sea. From which powerful city, one of Rome's arch-rivals, did they hail?
2. Although the writings of Pytheas of Massalia, who lived in the 4th century BC, have unfortunately not survived, we know that he was the first to introduce the notion of "ultima Thule", corresponding to what particular location?
3. In the late 2nd century BC, Chinese diplomat Zhang Qian brought back valuable information on the lands to the west of China, which proved essential in the creation of which legendary link between East and West?
4. Though the ancient Romans are known more as conquerors than explorers, some important expeditions to sub-Saharan Africa took place in Roman times. The expedition organized by Lucius Cornelius Balbus in 19 BC is believed to have reached which major river of West Africa?
5. A 9th-century Viking from southern Norway, Naddodd earned his place in history by his chance discovery of which hitherto unknown land in the Atlantic Ocean?
6. In the mid-13th century, Franciscan friars Giovanni da Pian del Carpine and William of Rubruck embarked on long land journeys that led them to meet the powerful rulers of what people - who built the largest empire in history?
7. One of the most controversial theories about pre-modern exploration of the unknown world concerns the Atlantic expedition of an early 14th-century African ruler, the predecessor of the near-legendary Mansa Musa, which might have reached the Americas more than a century before Christopher Columbus. What powerful, wealthy empire, located in West Africa, was ruled by this man?
8. No discussion of great medieval travellers and explorers would be complete without mentioning Ibn Battuta. During his extensive travels through Europe, Asia and Africa, he is believed to have reached what large archipelago - where a famous explorer lost his life almost 200 years later?
9. The 14th century was a very favourable time for Chinese exploration of the world. In the same period that saw Ibn Battuta's travels, Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan sailed to Southeast Asia, from where he is believed to have reached northern Australia. He was also one of the first to document the early history of what small but prosperous Southeast Asian country?
10. 15th-century Venetian traveller Niccolò de' Conti was an influential figure in the history of early modern European exploration. The account of his travels in Asia was one of the sources for the famous Fra Mauro map, which hinted at a sea route from Europe to India around Africa - successfully discovered by which great explorer at the end of the same century?
Source: Author
LadyNym
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gtho4 before going online.
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