History · Geography

Historical Explorations and Expeditions

1,615 Questions

Historical explorations involve significant voyages, mountaineering feats, and expeditions that shaped global geography. This section includes questions on legendary explorers, naval routes, and major geographical discoveries. It is a crucial segment of general awareness for competitive exams.

Famous global explorersMountaineering expeditionsNaval voyagesCartography historySpace exploration pioneers

Historical Explorations and Expeditions Questions

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Who started a school for navigators and encouraged exploration?

  1. King Edward

  2. King Denis

  3. Prince Henry

  4. King Alfonso I
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Prince Henry, a Portuguese made great efforts in this direction. Hence, he was known as Henry the Navigator. He started a school for navigators and encouraged extensive exploration.  The sailors were taught how to make use of Mariner's compass and the astrolabe. 

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Who had to search for new sea routes in order to reach Asia?

  1. Europeans

  2. Americans

  3. Africans

  4. Australians
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by Ottoman Empire. It used to be the prime route for the Europe that allowed the trade of spice and other commodities from India and China. Its fall caused the loss in spice trade due to which the European sailors went on to discover an alternate sea route.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which Venetian traveller went to China in the 13th century?

  1. Jorge Alvares

  2. Sir Robert Hart

  3. Kublai Khan

  4. Marco Polo
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Venetian traveler Marco Polo, as well as his father and uncle, traveled to China during the period of Mongol rule in the 13th century. Basically he was a merchant.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which Portuguese sailor discovered the sea-route to India?

  1. Vasco da Gama

  2. Bartholomeo Diaz

  3. Ferdinand Magellan

  4. Christopher Columbus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered a sea route to India in 1497-1498. Actually, an unnamed Indian navigator he hired in Kenya directed the journey from the east coast of Africa to what is now Kozhikode, India.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

When Columbus discovered ______, it came to be known as 'The New World.'

  1. India

  2. America

  3. China

  4. Japan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Christopher Columbus was the first to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1472 with three ships and 88 crew members. He reached America on 11th October 1492 after great difficulties. This was the most significant discovery of Columbus and it came to be known as 'The New World.'

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which sailor sailed across the Atlantic ocean in 1472?

  1. Christopher Columbus

  2. Vasco da Gama

  3. Ferdinand Magellan

  4. Bartholomeo Diaz
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic ocean in 1472. He did four trips across the Atlantic ocean and discovered America. He was determined to find the sea route form Europe to Asia, but he never could. 

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which country people discovered a direct sea route to India?

  1. Portuguese

  2. Germans

  3. The French

  4. The Dutch
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Portuguese were the first to discover a direct sea route to India from Europe via Atlantic Ocean. The voyage was undertaken by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who on May 17, 1498, landed in near Calicut in Kerala.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Who constructed a network of canals?

  1. James Hargreaves

  2. John Metcalfe

  3. Bessemer

  4. James Brindley
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
James Brindley (1716-1772) was one of the early canal engineers who worked on some of the first canals of the modern era. He played an essential role in shaping the way canals were built during the Industrial Revolution.
Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which islands were discovered by Henry's sailors?
This question has multiple answers.

  1. Madeira

  2. Spice

  3. Azores

  4. Andaman
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A,C Correct answer
Explanation

Prince Henry is considered to be the driving force behind the maritime exploration carried out by the Portuguese. His sailors discovered the Madeira and Azores Islands of Atlantic Ocean in 1420 and 1427 respectively. The Portuguese cultivated wheat and sugarcane which provided enormous wealth.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

Which Portuguese traveller reached the southern most tip of Africa?

  1. Vasco da Gama

  2. Ferdinand Magellan

  3. Bartholomeo Diaz

  4. Christopher Columbus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bartholomew Diaz was a nobleman and explorer of the Portuguese royal household. He was the first person to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa in 1488. This exploration led to the setting up the route from Europe to Asia.

Multiple choice social studies north america voyages and discoveries scientific inventions and technological developments india's contemporary economic condition

On which date did Christopher Columbus reach America?

  1. 10th May 1498

  2. 12th October 1492

  3. 6th March 1497

  4. 3rd April 1472
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew of 88 men set sail from Spain in three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and Santa Maria. On October 12, 1492, the ships made landfall in America.

Multiple choice history the industrial revolution industrialization and the growth of democracy china: two different phases industrial revolution industrial revolution and its effects

Name the Italian explorer who went to China in 1295?

  1. Charts Loyal

  2. Marco Polo

  3. William Caxton

  4. Johann Bour
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Marco Polo was a great explorer from Italy. He returned from China in 1295 and brought the knowledge of woodblock printing along with him. Thus, printing began in Italy and traveled to other parts of Europe.