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Explorers Of The World Trivia Quiz

Yeah sure, we all know the history of North and South America, but how much do you know about the Europeans who 'discovered' them and started colonization?

A multiple-choice quiz by TheJay. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
TheJay

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
36,714

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2648

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which Portuguese explorer set up a school of navigation in the 1400s and sponsored exploratory voyages to Africa and the New World? Hint

Bartholomew Dias

Prince Henry

Vasco da Gama

Ferdinand Magellan

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Question 2 of 10

2. During what years did Vasco da Gama's first voyage to India take place? Hint

1492-1493

1521-1522

1488-1489

1497-1498

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Question 3 of 10

3. Where did Ferdinand Magellan die on his crew's voyage circumnavigating the world? Hint

Africa

India

The Philippines

South America

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Question 4 of 10

4. How many voyages did Christopher Columbus make to the 'New World'? Hint

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Americas were probably named for a man with the first name of Amerigo. What was his last name? Hint

Cortes

Pizarro

Vespucci

Coronado

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Question 6 of 10

6. What French explorers traveled through the Great Lakes, present-day Wisconsin and down the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River? Hint

Marquette and Cartier

Champlain and La Salle

Marquette and Joliet

Cartier and Verrazano

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Question 7 of 10

7. What Italian explored the east coast of North America for the French in 1524? Hint

Champlain

Cartier

Verrazano

La Salle

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Question 8 of 10

8. What Spanish conquistador led the men that conquered the Aztecs? Hint

Pizarro

Cortes

Balboa

Coronado

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Question 9 of 10

9. Who commanded the first English voyage to the Americas? Hint

John Cabot

John Smith

Sir Francis Drake

Sir Walter Raleigh

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which English explorer undertook voyages for both the English and the Dutch and charted an area which is now New York? Hint

John Cabot

Henry Hudson

John Smith

Francis Drake

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which Portuguese explorer set up a school of navigation in the 1400s and sponsored exploratory voyages to Africa and the New World?

Answer: Prince Henry

Prince Henry earned the nickname, 'Henry the Navigator'. He died in 1460.

2. During what years did Vasco da Gama's first voyage to India take place?

Answer: 1497-1498

Da Gama's trip was the first European expedition to reach India by sea.

3. Where did Ferdinand Magellan die on his crew's voyage circumnavigating the world?

Answer: The Philippines

Magellan was involved in a local war, and died as a result. His ship then went home. However, disease and starvation had taken their toll. By the time the ships returned home, only 18 men and one ship remained of the 5 ships that had set out on the voyage.

4. How many voyages did Christopher Columbus make to the 'New World'?

Answer: 4

Columbus was not Spanish. He was from Genoa, in Italy.

5. The Americas were probably named for a man with the first name of Amerigo. What was his last name?

Answer: Vespucci

However, Amerigo Vespucci's key discovery was that America (or the Americas) were a continent and not the most easterly parts of Asia.

The name 'America' appeared first in Martin Waldseem�ller's 1507 world map, but there is some disagreement as where Waldseem�ller got the name from. Sources other than Amerigo Vespucci have been suggested.

6. What French explorers traveled through the Great Lakes, present-day Wisconsin and down the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River?

Answer: Marquette and Joliet

7. What Italian explored the east coast of North America for the French in 1524?

Answer: Verrazano

8. What Spanish conquistador led the men that conquered the Aztecs?

Answer: Cortes

Cortes had only about 600 men, but he succeeded in bringing one of the most powerful empires in the Americas to its knees. Much of this work was done by an invisible warrior, disease.

9. Who commanded the first English voyage to the Americas?

Answer: John Cabot

Cabot made his voyage in 1497.

10. Which English explorer undertook voyages for both the English and the Dutch and charted an area which is now New York?

Answer: Henry Hudson

Hudson made trips in 1609-1611. On his 1611 trip, however, his crew mutinied and set him adrift in a small boat with his son and eight other crew. None of them were ever seen again, and it is assumed that they all perished.

Source: Author TheJay

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