Renaissance and Age of Exploration Quiz

Cultural Context of the Renaissance

• Late 15th century marked the Renaissance, a cultural revival after the Middle Ages.
• This period also called the Age of Encounter, characterized by exploration and discovery.

Age of Exploration

• Explorers sought easier trade routes to China and India.
• Key navigators included Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Vasco de Gama, Amerigo Vespucci, Ferdinand Magellan, and Francis Drake.

Viking Precedence

• Historians established that Vikings reached North America around 500 years prior to these explorers.

Impact on Native Populations

• Exploration led to significant contact with indigenous peoples, often with devastating consequences for them.
• Connected various nations, transforming global interactions and economies.

Historical Questions

• Another term for the "Age of Exploration" is the "Age of Discovery."
• Explorers were motivated by the pursuit of wealth and the spread of Christianity.
• Funding for these journeys primarily came from monarchs and private investors seeking trade benefits.

Historical Events and Impacts

• The Ottoman Empire captured Constantinople in 1453, disrupting European trade routes.
• This posed challenges for European merchants, who relied on access to Eastern goods.

Key Trade Routes

• Critical trade routes to the Far East included the Silk Road and maritime routes around Africa.

Leadership in Early Voyages

• The initial voyages in the Age of Discovery were led by Portuguese explorers.

Portuguese Explorations

• Main objective for Portuguese voyages was to establish a direct trade route to India for spices and other goods.

Treaty of Tordesillas

• The Treaty of Tordesillas divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, significantly impacting European colonial strategies.

Test your knowledge of the Renaissance era and the Age of Exploration. This quiz covers key figures, their voyages, and the cultural changes that shaped Europe in the late 15th century. Dive into the adventures of renowned explorers like Columbus and Magellan and discover their impact on global trade routes.