Christopher Columbus

Why is Christopher Columbus an important historical figure?

• He proved once and for all that Earth is round

• His discovery led to the colonization of the Americas

• He opened up a new trade route to Asia

• He was the greatest mapmaker of his time

Which of the following terms best describes Columbus's relationship with his brother, Bartolomeo?

• Archenemies

• Friendly rivals

• Perfect strangers

• Business partners

What was Columbus's primary motivation for his voyage across the Atlantic?

• The desire for riches and power

• A profound devotion to the Spanish royal family

• His fervent interest in geography

• The potential to chart unexplored territory

What area did Columbus explore?

• The eastern coast of Asia

• The eastern coast of the present-day United States

• The western coast of the present-day United States

• The Caribbean Sea

What word best describes Columbus’s treatment of Native people?

• Merciless

• Compassionate

• Respectful

• Humble

When Columbus arrived in the Americas, he called the Native people Indians, even though they looked and sounded nothing like people from India. Which is the best conclusion based on this fact?

• Columbus had problems with his vision and hearing

• Columbus was illiterate

• Columbus was determined to cover up his mistakes

• Columbus knew virtually nothing about Indian Culture

How did Columbus become the governor of Hispaniola?

• He was elected by the island's inhabitants

• He inherited the post from the previous governor

• He deposed the previous governor and took the post by force

• He was given the title in advance by the king and queen of Spain

About which of the following attributes of Earth was Columbus mistaken?

• Its shape

• Its size

• Its mass

• Its composition

Which statement accurately describes the Columbian Exchange?

• Equal, favoring both Europeans and Native Americans

• Unequal, favoring Europeans

• Unequal, favoring Native Americans

• Ambiguous; its not clear who benefited more

Why do some people object to celebrating Columbus Day?

• Because Columbus never reached the contiguous United States

• Because historians don't know the exact date when his ships actually made landfall

• Because Columbus committed brutal acts and began a period of conquest

• Because Columbus was so mistaken about the size of Earth