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If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked. Home World History Global Exploration European exploration, exploration of regions of
Earth for scientific, commercial, religious, military, and other purposes by Europeans, beginning about the 4th century bce. The motives that spur human beings to examine their
environment are many. Strong among them are the satisfaction of curiosity, the pursuit of trade, the spread of religion, and the desire for security and political power. At different times and in different places,
different motives are dominant. Sometimes one motive inspires the promoters of discovery, and another motive may inspire the individuals who carry out the search. For a discussion of the society that engaged in these explorations, and their effects on intra-European affairs, see European history. The earliest European empires are discussed in ancient Greek civilization and ancient Rome. The threads of geographical exploration are continuous and, being entwined one with another, are difficult to separate. Three major phases of investigation may nevertheless
be distinguished. The first phase is the exploration of the Old World centred on the Mediterranean Sea, the second is the so-called Age of Discovery, during which, in the search for sea routes to Cathay (the name by which China was known to
medieval Europe), a New World was found, and the third is the establishment of the political, social, and commercial relationships of the New World to the Old and the elucidation of the major physical features of the continental interiors—in short, the delineation of the modern world. Britannica Quiz European Exploration: Fact or Fiction? Were the French the first Europeans to reach southern Africa? Was Christopher Columbus the first European to see South America? From southern Africa to Jamaica, navigate your way through this quiz of European exploration. The exploration of the Old WorldFrom the time of the earliest recorded history to the beginning of the 15th century, Western knowledge of the world widened from a river valley surrounded by mountains or desert (the views of Babylonia and Egypt) to a Mediterranean world with hinterlands extending from the Sahara to the Gobi Desert and from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean (the view of Greece and Rome). It later expanded again to include the far northern lands beyond the Baltic and another and dazzling civilization in the Far East (the medieval view). The earliest known surviving map, dating probably from the time of Sargon of Akkad (about 2334–2279 bce), shows canals or rivers—perhaps the Tigris and a tributary—and surrounding mountains. The rapid colonization of the shores of the Mediterranean and of the Black Sea by Phoenicia and the Greek city-states in the 1st millennium bce must have been accompanied by the exploration of their hinterlands by countless unknown soldiers and traders. Herodotus prefaces his History (written in the 5th century bce) with a geographical description of the then known world: this introductory material reveals that the coastlines of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea had by then been explored. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now Stories survive of a few men who are credited with bringing new knowledge from distant journeys. Herodotus tells of five young adventurers of the tribe of the Nasamones living on the desert edge of Cyrenaica in North Africa, who journeyed southwest for many months across the desert, reaching a great river flowing from west to east; this presumably was the Niger, although Herodotus thought it to be the Upper Nile. Section 1: Discovery and Exploration Practice Test 1 Write your answer choices on a piece of paper, then click on the "Answer Key" button at the end to check and grade your test. 1. Most experts think that the Native Americans (Indians) first arrived in North America 10 to 40 thousand years ago by A. rowing primitive boats across the Atlantic Ocean from Northern Europe.B. sailing canoes across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii or nearby islands. C. traveling from northern Asia across to what is now Alaska. D. sailing rafts from Western Africa to Central America. 2. Which of these is the best explanation for the "rebirth" or Renaissance of European civilization around 1300 - 1400 A.D.? A. the discovery of the New World and its
wealth, especially gold, that came to Spain 3. Which of the features below was NOT generally associated with the Renaissance? A. the idea that the world can be understood, especially
with science and mathematics 4. Why did Spain and Portugal take an early lead in the Age of Discovery? A. They were both Catholic countries. 5. On his first voyage of discovery, Christopher Columbus was trying to find A. a sea route by which ships could sail to the lands of the Far East. 6. When did Columbus make his first voyage to the New World? A. 1420 7. Which is NOT a true statement about the geographic and navigational knowledge of Columbus as he set out on his first voyage of discovery? A. He thought the earth was smaller than it really is. 8. Which explorer below sailed for England and helped establish an early English claim on lands in North America? A. Hernando de Soto 9. Where does the name "America" come from? A. It is Latin for "New World." 10. How did the system of land ownership of Native Americans compare to that of Europeans? A. Indians life was built around a system of individual ownership of land, much like that of Europeans. 11. Which Native American group lived in what is now the Southwestern United States? A. Inca 12. Which of these is NOT true of the Aztec Indians? A. Their religion opposed all forms of bloodshed. 13. Which of these is a true statement about smallpox? A. It was a disease carried from Europe that wiped out millions of Native Americans. 14. Which of these best describes the reason or reasons why the Spanish explored and conquered large areas of Central and South America? A. They mainly wanted the land, because Spain did not have enough. 15. Which is an example of the Columbian Exchange? A. the division of South America between Portugal and Spain 16. By considering the life of Bartolome de Las Casas, which issue below would he most likely want to get involved in if he were alive today? A. How can we make better space ships for the exploration of Mars? 17. What and where was “The Lost Colony”? A. a sugar growing colony planted
by Portugal on an island near Africa 18. The purpose of missions built in the New World by the Spanish was A. to provide military protection for Spanish settlers. 19. Which of these best describes the houses of the Indians first encountered by the English explorers in the coastal areas near the Chesapeake Bay? A. They were built of stone. 20. Which of these was NOT a result of the meeting of the Old World and the New World in the early 1500s? A. Many Native Americans died of European diseases and exploitation. Use the map below to answer questions 21 to 30.
22. Which letter shows the location of the Spice Islands, known today as the Molucca Islands? 23. Which letter shows the location of India, which was reached by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama? 24. Which letter shows the location of Spain, the country that sponsored Columbus and Magellan on their famous voyages of discovery? 25. Which letter shows the area where Columbus landed on his first voyage to the New World? 26. Which letter shows where the Aztec Empire was located? 27. Which letter shows where the Inca civilization was located? 28. Which letter shows the area that French explorer Jacques Cartier searched unsuccessfully for a "Northwest Passage" in 1534? 29. Which letter shows the location of England? 30. Which letter shows where the English put the settlement known as "The Lost Colony"?
What caused an increase in European sailing voyages during the Age of Discovery?Which best describes the reason for increased European sailing voyages during the Age of Discovery? Explorers were seeking to find new routes to the spice markets of Asia.
Why did Europeans sail across the Atlantic Ocean during the Age of Discovery select all that apply quizlet?Why did Europeans sail across the Atlantic Ocean during the Age of Discovery? Select all that apply. European explorers wanted to gain wealth and notoriety. European explorers tried to find oceanic routes to Asia to trade for spices.
What two European nations led the way during the Age of Exploration?Portugal and Spain became the early leaders in the Age of Exploration. Through the Treaty of Tordesillas the two countries agreed to divide up the New World. Spain got most of the Americas while Portugal got Brazil, India, and Asia.
Which was a motivation for European Exploration in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?Historians generally recognize three motives for European exploration and colonization in the New World: God, gold, and glory.
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