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The European Voyages of Exploration Worksheet

The map above dates to 1482 and effectively represents the extent of European knowledge about the world at this time. While educated people knew that the Earth was not flat, their knowledge of the world had improved little since the time of the Ancient Romans.

  1. Look at this map and list the three continents that are depicted on it.
  2. List at least three seas and oceans that are evident.
  3. List at least three continents that are not evident.

 

The Internet site "The European Voyages of Exploration" from the University of Calgary presents information on all aspects of the Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. This worksheet asks you a number of questions about this historical period and about some of the information on this web site. To answer the questions, you must navigate the web site and analyze the information you find. The more questions you answer the more points you will receive. Before each question, you will find the title of the section in which you can find the answer.

4. (Iberian Pioneers) What two countries are found on the Iberian Peninsula?

 

5. (Iberian Pioneers) What is the distance between the Iberian Peninsula and Africa?

 

  1. (Iberian Pioneers) What kingdoms could be found on the Iberian Peninsula during the 15th century?

    2.  

  2. (Iberian Pioneer) List five bodies of water used by traders during the Renaissance?

 

8. (Portugal) The Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover sea routes to what four places?

 

9. (Spain) On the map provided, the Spanish empire could be found on which three continents?

 

10. ( Spain) Who were the king and queen whose marriage united several kingdoms and created the country of Spain?

 

11. (Knowledge and Power) What types of sea life are depicted on the medieval map ?

 

12. (Africa) Using the late 14th century map of Africa, state generally which part of the continent had not yet been explored?

 

  1. (Africa) Using the Early Portuguese Raid and Trade Map, in which year did the Portuguese reach Cape Verde?

 

 

14. (Latin America and the Conquistadors) Using the Map of New Spain from 1540, answer the following:

    1. What was the Gulf of Mexico called in 1540?

      2.  

       

    2. What is the name of the Peninsula that juts into the Gulf and is now part of Mexico?

 

 

15. (Brazil) Who discovered Brazil? What country was he from? Why was the discovery an accident?

 

 

 

16. (Brazil) What was Brazil wood used for? How did it effect the settlement and naming of the territory?

 

 

 

17. (Vasco Da Gama) Who was the first explorer to round the Southern tip of Africa? Who was the first to circumnavigate Africa?

 

 

  1. (Vasco Da Gama) What two Indian cities were the final destination of the Portuguese traders ?