Question 1

What was the Age of Exploration?

Accepted Answer

The Age of Exploration was a time about 500 years ago when explorers from Europe started traveling far and wide. They wanted to find new lands and sea routes to places like Asia.

Question 2

Why did explorers want to find new trade routes?

Accepted Answer

Explorers wanted to find new trade routes to get things like spices, gold, and silk more easily and cheaply. These items were very valuable in Europe.

Question 3

Who was Christopher Columbus?

Accepted Answer

Christopher Columbus was an explorer from Italy who sailed for Spain. In 1492, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and reached islands near the Americas.

Question 4

Why is Ferdinand Magellan famous?

Accepted Answer

Ferdinand Magellan is famous because he was the first to lead a voyage that went all the way around the world. His journey showed that the Earth is round and much bigger than people thought.

Question 5

What did explorers find during their journeys?

Accepted Answer

Explorers found new lands, like the Americas, and many new plants, animals, and people they never knew existed. They returned with items like potatoes, tomatoes, and chocolate!

Question 6

How did explorers travel during the Age of Exploration?

Accepted Answer

Explorers traveled using large sailing ships called caravels or galleons. These ships could carry lots of supplies and were designed to sail across the open ocean.

Question 7

What were some dangers explorers faced?

Accepted Answer

Explorers faced many dangers like storms, getting lost, and running out of food and water. Sometimes, they also fought with local people who lived in the lands they explored.

Question 8

Who was Vasco da Gama?

Accepted Answer

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who was the first to sail around Africa to reach India. His journey opened a new sea route to Asia.

Question 9

Why was the discovery of America important?

Accepted Answer

The discovery of America was important because it connected two worlds: the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa) and the New World (the Americas). It changed how people in these regions traded and interacted with each other.

Question 10

What kinds of ships did explorers use?

Accepted Answer

Explorers used ships like caravels, which were small and fast, and galleons, which were bigger and stronger. These ships could carry lots of goods and travel long distances.

Question 11

Who were some famous explorers from the Age of Exploration?

Accepted Answer

Some famous explorers include Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Henry Hudson. Each of them explored new parts of the world.

Question 12

What is the Northwest Passage?

Accepted Answer

The Northwest Passage is a sea route around the top of North America that explorers tried to find. They hoped it would be a shortcut to reach Asia, but it was very icy and hard to navigate.

Question 13

How did maps change during the Age of Exploration?

Accepted Answer

Maps changed a lot because explorers discovered new lands and reported back about them. Maps became more accurate and showed more of the world than ever before.

Question 14

Why was the compass important to explorers?

Accepted Answer

The compass was important because it helped explorers find their way across the ocean. It always points north, so sailors could know which direction they were going even when they couldn't see land.

Question 15

What was the Silk Road?

Accepted Answer

The Silk Road was a group of trade routes that connected Europe to Asia. Before sea routes were discovered, it was how people traded things like silk and spices over land.

Question 16

What role did Spain and Portugal play in exploration?

Accepted Answer

Spain and Portugal were two of the main countries leading the Age of Exploration. They sponsored many explorers and claimed new lands in places like South America and Asia.

Question 17

How did explorers impact the people they met in new lands?

Accepted Answer

Explorers often brought new ideas, tools, and foods, but they also brought challenges like diseases and conflict. Sometimes, the local people were treated unfairly or forced to change their ways.

Question 18

What was the effect of the Age of Exploration on Europe?

Accepted Answer

The Age of Exploration brought new goods, wealth, and knowledge to Europe. It also led to more trade and contact with different parts of the world.

Question 19

Why did explorers write in journals?

Accepted Answer

Explorers wrote in journals to record what they saw and experienced during their travels. Their writings help us learn about their journeys and the new places they discovered.

Question 20

How did the Age of Exploration change the world map?

Accepted Answer

Before the Age of Exploration, people knew about fewer lands on the world map. After explorers traveled to new places, maps began to show more accurate shapes and new countries.

The Age of Exploration: Navigating New Worlds - 20 FAQs Explained Simply