16 Questions
Who was the first European to arrive in North America before Columbus?
Leif Ericsson
In which year did Johannes Gutenberg develop the world's first mechanical moveable type printing press?
1400 A.D.
Where did the Norse attempt to establish a permanent colony in North America?
Greenland
What was the significance of the Norse 'discovery' of North America in relation to later European explorations?
It had no connection to Spanish, English, or French explorations
What is the term used to describe the period before European contact in the Americas?
Pre-Columbian Period
How are the native cultures of Pre-Columbian America grouped by historians?
Into three distinct stages: Lithic, Archaic, and Formative
What characterized the Lithic Stage of native cultures in Pre-Columbian America?
Use of stone tools
Why is it considered ethnocentric to say Christopher Columbus 'discovered' America?
Because it implies a lack of respect for other cultures
What legacy is Columbus primarily remembered for today?
Unleashing changes that devastated native populations
What did Amerigo Vespucci claim to have understood during his voyages?
The existence of a new continent
What significant event happened in 1507 related to Amerigo Vespucci's voyages?
The name 'America' was applied to the New World
Which aspect of the Columbian Exchange had a devastating impact on native populations?
Unilateral arrival of European diseases
Why did Columbus sail west across the Atlantic?
To avoid the arduous overland journey along the Silk Road
What was one of the main motivations for Europeans to venture into the spice trade?
To avoid the overinflated prices of merchants in the Middle East
How did Columbus believe he would reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic?
By following Ptolemy's maps that implied a westward route to Asia
What was the outcome of Columbus' voyages to the Americas in relation to his goal of reaching Asia?
He realized that he had landed in a new continent, not Asia
Test your knowledge about Christopher Columbus and Ptolemy's Guide to Geography. Learn about Columbus' motivations for sailing west to get to Asia and how Ptolemy's maps influenced his expedition.
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