Exploration and Expansion in the Late 15th Century

What major event in 1453 significantly altered the political and mercantile landscape of Europe?

• The discovery of the New World

• The signing of the Magna Carta

• The conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire

• The fall of the Roman Empire

What was the primary motivation for Spain to support Columbus's westward journey?

• To find a new route to Asia and undercut the Ottoman Empire

• To prove the Earth was round

• To discover new spices

• To establish trade with Africa

What was the significance of the marriage between Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon?

• It led to the discovery of the New World

• It marked the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition

• It unified Spain and strengthened its position for expansion

• It ended the Reconquista

What was the initial reaction of the Catholic Monarchs to Columbus's proposal?

• They immediately funded his journey

• They sent him to Portugal for approval

• They found it implausible but provided support to keep him from going elsewhere

• They rejected it outright

What was a common misconception about Columbus's journey?

• That he was trying to prove the Earth was flat

• That he was trying to find a new continent

• That he underestimated the distance to Asia

• That he was looking for new spices

What was the primary reason Columbus's calculations about the distance to Asia were incorrect?

• He underestimated the size of the Earth

• He used outdated maps

• He overestimated the size of the Earth

• He ignored advice from other explorers

Which island did Columbus first land on during his voyage in 1492?

• Cuba

• San Salvador in the Bahamas

• Puerto Rico

• Hispaniola

What was the name of the settlement established by Columbus's crew after the Santa Maria ran aground?

• La Navidad

• San Salvador

• Santa Clara

• Isabella

How did Columbus describe the indigenous people he encountered in his reports to Spain?

• As fierce warriors

• As uninterested in trade

• As technologically advanced

• As naive and easily conquerable

What was the outcome of Columbus's first voyage in terms of Spanish interest?

• Spain lost interest in further exploration

• Spain authorized a larger return expedition

• The voyage was deemed a complete failure

• Columbus was imprisoned for his failures