Age of Exploration Review Game
DIRECTIONS:
 Answer the following questions as a group as quickly as possible.
 Each person in the group may only answer ONE QUESTION PER TURN!
1. In which two centuries did most of the Age of Exploration take place? 15th/16th (1400’s and 1500’s)
2. Which two countries dominated the Age of Exploration? Spain & Portugal
3. What was the name of the treaty that divided the world between Spain & Portugal? The Treaty of
Tordasillas
4. Which two countries were most explorers trying to get to? India & China
5. Which Middle Eastern empire’s growth caused Europeans to begin ocean exploration? Ottomans
6. What were the 3 motivating factors for exploration? God, Glory, Gold
7. Name 2 goods that explorers were trying to obtain on their explorations? Gold, Silver, Spices, Silks
8. What new technology enabled explorers to successfully navigate the oceans? Caravel, Triangular Sail,
Compass, Astrolabe
9. Which country did Christopher Columbus sail for? Spain
10. Which country was Columbus trying to reach? China
11. Where did Columbus actually land? The Caribbean/Cuba/Hispaniola
12. Why was Columbus important? Encouraged exploration of the West
13. Which country did Ferdinand Magellan sail for? Spain
14. Which country was Magellan trying to reach? The Philippines/Spice Islands
15. What did Magellan have to do to reach his destination? Sail around the world
16. Why is Magellan important? Found new land for Spain, sailed around the world
17. Which country did Vasco de Gama sail for? Portugal
18. Which country was de Gama trying to reach? India
19. Where did de Gama have to go in order to reach this destination? Around Africa
20. Why is de Gama important? Gained land and trade for Portugal
21. Which country did Jacques Cartier sail for? France
22. Which country was Cartier trying to reach? China/India
23. Where did Cartier actually land? Canada
24. Why is Cartier important? Discovered Canada and claimed it for France
25. Which country did Hernan Cortez sail for? Spain
26. What mythical place was Cortez looking for? The City of Gold/El Dorado
27. What did Cortez actually find and then conquer? The Aztec Empire
28. Why is Cortez important? Conquered a great civilization, gained land and wealth for Spain
29. Which country did Sir Frances Drake sail for? England
30. What was Drake’s mission when he set sail? To raid Spanish settlements and steal their wealth
31. What did Drake end up doing as a result of his mission? Sailing around the world
32. Why is Drake important? Weakened Spanish power, gained wealth/power for England
33. The Columbian Exchange is named after which explorer? Christopher Columbus
34. Name the 3 most important things the Columbian Exchange gave to Native Americans. Diseases,
Livestock, Sugar Cane
35. Name the 2 most important things the Columbian Exchange gave to Europeans. Corn, Potatoes
36. What was the result of the Columbian Exchange? Europeans got stronger/wealthier, Native
Americans were killed off/weakened
37. Name the 3 areas involved in the Triangle Trade. Americas, Europe, Africa
38. Name the section of Africa where the majority of slaves were taken from. The Gold Coast/West Coast
39. What was traded to Africans in exchange for slaves? Rum & Guns
40. Why did African kingdoms engage in the slave trade? They were able to get rid of enemies/criminals
OR they felt forced into trade in order to acquire guns for self-defense.
41. What crops were produced in the Americas because of slave labor? Sugar, Tobacco, Cotton
42. Where were these crops sent after they were grown? Europe
43. What was produced with these crops? Finished goods/Manufactured goods
44. Which group of people did Europeans in the Caribbean first try and use as slave labor? Native
Americans
45. What are 3 reasons why these people were not successful as slaves? Caught diseases too easily,
Escaped more easily, unfamiliar with farming techniques
46. Why did Africans become more preferred by Europeans as slaves? Stayed healthier longer, had great
difficulties escaping, were familiar with farming techniques.