RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 8 Confrontation of Cultures

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 8 Confrontation of Cultures Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 8 Confrontation of Cultures

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. 
What do you know about Animists ?
Answer:
They were the people who believed that the objects who are regarded as inanimate by modem science may have life or soul.

Question 2. 
How did the invention of compass inspire the sailors ?
Answer:
The invention of compass inspired the sailors to sail in different directions because it helped in locating cardinal directions.

Question 3. 
Name any two inventions which inspired the sailors to sail in different directions. .
Or
Name any two inventions which inspired to sail for more navigation missions.
Answer:
(i) Invention of compass.
(ii) Invention of telescope.

Question 4. 
Write any two features of Arawakian Lucyos.
Answer:
(i) They like negotiation.
(ii) They were skilled boat builder, who made canons from hollow tree trunks.
(iii) They lived in Caribbean sea and the Greater Antilles.

Question 5. 
Who was Marco Polo ?
Answer:
He was a great Italian traveller who wrote his famous account ‘Travels of Marco Polo’. He visited Qubilai Khan’s court in 1275 CE.

Question 6. 
Define the concept ‘Cosmography’.
Answer:
Cosmography is the science of mapping the universe and deals with both heaven and the earth.

Question 7. 
What do you know about ‘Chinampas’ of the Aztec ?
Answer:
They (Chinampas) were the artificial island in Mexico Lake made by the Aztecs by weaving huge reed mats and covering them with mud and plants.

Question 8. 
What is the meaning of Reconquesto ?
Answer:
Reconquesto means reconquest. The military conquests by Ibenan were called (referred to as) Recoquista.

Question 9. 
Write any two key features of early American civilisations.
Answer:
(i) The people of early American civilisations practised agriculture.
(ii) Com was their main food item.
(iii) They also practised cattle-rearing.

Question 10. 
What is the meaning of Capitulaciones ?
Answer:
Capitulaciones means the agreements made by the Spanish rulers. By these agreements, the rulers of Spain used to award the right to govern the newly acquired lands to the leaders of successful expeditions.

Question 11. 
Who accorded their approval for the voyage to be undertaken .by Columbus ?
Answer:
The Spanish ruler Ferdinand and his queen Isabella accorded their approval for the voyage to be undertaken by Columbus.

Question 12. 
When did Columbus started his voyage ?
Answer:
Columbus started his voyage on 3 August, 1492 C.E.

Question 13. 
When did Columbus reach Guanahani ? What name he gave to the island ?
Answer:
On 12 October, 1492 C.E. He named this island San-Salvador.

Question 14. 
Why is Columbus famous ?
Answer:
He was famous because his discoveries led to the initiation of an age of colonialism.

Question 15. 
Christopher Columbus was the native of which country ? When did he reach the Bahama Islands ?
Answer:
Christopher Columbus was the native of Italy. He reached the Bahama Islands on 12 October, 1492 C.E.

Question 16. 
What do you know about Cardinal Pierre di Ailly ?
Answer:
He was a famous French philosopher who wrote a famous treatise on astronomy and geography named ‘Imago Mundi’.

Question 17. 
Who gave the New World the name of America and when ?
Answer:
The New World was given the name of America by a German publisher in 1507 C.E. and it was so named in the memory of Amerigo Vespucci.

Question 18. 
What do you mean by Conquistadores ?
Answer:
Conquistadores means the Spanish conquerors and their soldiers, who established their empires in the New World.

Question 19. 
Which two Spaniards had established their empires in America ?
Answer:
(i) Hernando Cortes and
(ii) Francisco Pizarro.

Question 20. 
Write two problems faced by Columbus on his maiden return journey.
Answer:
(i) Santa Maria, the ship, which was a part of his fleet, got destroyed and the other two ships were attacked by termites.
(ii) The co-sailors were pressurizing Columbus to return.

Question 21. 
Who was Montezuma II ?
Answer:
Montezuma II was the ruler of Mexico who ruled from 1502 to 1520 C.E. He was very unpopular. He was assassinated on 29 June, 1520 C.E.

Question 22. 
Why did the Portuguese pay less heed towards Brazil initially ?
Answer:
The Portuguese paid less heed towards Brazil in the beginning as there were dim chances of finding gold or silver there. The Portuguese were more interested in setting up commercial relations with western India.

Question 23. 
What was Pedro Alvares Cabral famous for ?
Answer:
Pedro Alvares Cabral was a famous Portuguese sailor who discovered Brazil in 1500 C.E.

Question 24. 
Who was Dona Marina ?
Answer:
She was the Mexican Princess. She was well-versed in Spanish and Mexican languages and served as an interpreter for Hernando Cortes. But for her help, it would have been very difficult for Hernando Cortes to conquer Mexico.

Question 25. 
What was Hernando Cortes famous for ?
Answer:
Hernando Cortes was a famous Spanish conquistadore. He invaded Mexico in 1519 C.E. and took captive its ruler. Montezuma II. He occupied Mexico in 1521 C.E. and thus brought the Aztec Empire to an end. Charles V, the ruler of Spain, appointed him the Governor and Captain- General of New Spain (Mexico). He remained on this post till 1541 C.E.

Question 26. 
Mention any two characteristic features of the Arawak civilisation.
Answer:
(i) They were organized under the elders of their clan.
(ii) They practised polygamy.

Question 27. 
What do you mean by Animists ?
Answer:
Animists is a term used for the people who believe that even the non-living things— stones and trees etc. have life.

Question 28. 
Who was Francisco Pizarro ?
Answer:
Francisco Pizarro was a famous Spanish conqueror. On 26 June 1541 C.E., Pizarro was assassinated by his adversaries in Lima.

Question 29. 
When did Atahualpa become the ruler of Inca Empire ? What was the name of his capital ?
Answer:
(i) Atahualpa became the ruler of Inca Empire in 1532 C.E.
(ii) Cuzco was his capital.

Question 30. 
When did Hernando Cortes conquer Mexico ? Who gave an invaluable support in his conquest ?
Answer:
In 1521 C.E. with the support of Dona Marina.

Question 31.
Who were Arawaks ? Which tribe displaced them from the Lesser Antilles ?
Answer:
(i) Arawaks were natives of Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles, which were situated in the Carribean Sea.
(ii) They were expelled from the Lesser Antilles by a ferocious tribe called Caribs.

Question 32. 
When and where was Hernando Cortes born ?
Answer:
Hernando Cortes was bom in 1485 C.E. in Spain.

Question 33. 
When did Columbus start his navigation and from where ? Also name the ships of his fleet.
Answer:
Columbus started his navigation from Port of Polos (in Spain) on 3rd August 1492. Santa Maria, Nine and Pinta were the names of the ships of his fleet.

Question 34. 
Who discovered Guanahani and when ? What name he given to this island ?
Answer:
Guanahani was discovered by Columbus on 12 October 1492. He named this island San-Salvador.

Question 35. 
Name two Spaniards who established their empire in America.
Answer:
The two Spaniards who established their empire in America were Hernando Cortes and Francisco Pizarro.

Question 36. 
Who were Conquistadores ?
Answer:
Conquistadores were the Spanish conquerors and their soldiers. They established a vast empire in New World.

Question 37. 
Name the capital of Aztec Civilisation. When was it constructed ?
Answer:
The name of capital city of Aztec civilisation was Tenochtitlan, and it was constructed in 1325.

Question 38. 
Write any three features of the religious life >f the Aztec people.
Answer:
(i) They worshipped sun god and war god as their main deities.
(ii) They also sacrifices human to please their deities.
(iii) Aztecs were polytheist by faith.

Question 39. 
Write any three similarities between Aztec and Mesopotamian civilisations.
Answer:
(i) Both these civilisations were spread over a vast area.
(ii) In both civilisations slaves were ultreated and placed at the lowest level of social strata.
(iii) Women enjoyed a respectful position.

Question 40. 
Who establish Inca Empire.
Name the capital city of Incan also.
Answer:
Incan Empire was established by Pachacuti Inca in 1438. The capital of Incan Empire was Cuzco.

Question 41. 
Write any two points of distinction between ancient Egyptian and Mayan calendars.
Answer:
(i) Myan calendar had 18 months while Egyptian had 12 months.
(ii) A month was 20 days in Mayan calendar while it consists of 30 days in Egyptian calendar.

Question 42. 
What do you know about the ridigious life of the Mayans ?
Answer:
The Mayan people worshipped many gods and goddesses like gods of forest, rain, fire, com etc. The custom of sacrifice was also practised. People also sacrificed one part of their body to take their god’s blessing.

Question 43. 
‘South, America is also known as Latin America’. Why ?
Answer:
South America is also known as Latin America because here the people spoke two main languages - Portuguese and Spanish. These languages belong to Latin family of languages, hence it is also known as Latin America’.

Question 44. 
Where did the Maya civilisation flourish ?
Answer:
The Maya civilisation flourished in Mexico and reached its zenith during the period from 300 to 900 

Question 45. 
Write any two features of the religious life of MayAnswer:
Answer:
(i) Sun and com gods were their two main deities.
(ii) They believed in life after death.

Question 46. 
Name four major centres of Maya civilisation.
Answer:
(a) Mexico, 
(b) Honduras, 
(c) Guatemala, 
(d) El-Salvador.

Question 47. 
Write any two features of Maya civilisation.
Answer:
(i) The main basis of this civilisation was com farming.
(ii) The priests enjoyed a place of prominence in Maya society.

Question 48. 
Which was the most famous of all the Mayan temples ?
Answer:
The Tikal temple was the most famous of all the Mayan temples.

Question 49. 
Mention any two features of the script of Maya civilisation.
Answer:
(i) It was pictographic.
(ii) It has not been deciphered so far.

Question 50. 
Why was corn farming the main basis of Maya civilisation ?
Answer:
Because several of their religious activities were related with sowing, growing and harvesting of com.

Question 51. 
Mention any two reasons which led to the decline of Maya civilisation.
Answer:
(i) The peasants’ revolt.
(ii) The invasion led by Hernando Cortes

Question 52. 
How many types of Mayan calendars existed ?
Answer:
The Mayans had two types of calendars. One calendar consisted of 365 days and the other had 260 days in a year.

Question 53. 
Which book was written by a modern historian Eric Williams ?
Answer:
‘Capitalism and Slavery’ in 1940 C.E.

Question 54. 
When did Olaudah Equiano write his autobiography ? Name its title also.
Answer:
Olaudah Equiano wrote his autobiography in 1789 C.E. Its title was ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano’.

Question 55. 
Write any two effects of slave trade.
Answer:
(i) Two third of Africans were enslaved and sold in European markets.
(ii) The works done by slaves gave an altogether new direction to European economy.

Question 56. 
What was Olaudah Equaine’s age at the time when he was enslaved ?
Answer:
He was 11 years old at the time when he was enslaved.

Question 57. 
Write any two restrictions which were imposed on the slaves.
Answer:
(i) They were not allowed to leave their working place.
(ii) They can not allowed to carry arms.

Short Answer Type Question 

Question 1. 
Who were Arawakian Lucayos and where did they lived ?
Answer:
They were a group of indegenous people of South America and of the Caribbean Sea. They were a group of people who preferred negotiation to conflict. Skilled boat builders, they sailed the open sea in dugout canoes. They lived by hunting, fishing and agriculture growing corns, sweet potatoes tubers and cassava.

Question 2. 
‘The Incas were magnificient builders'. Justify the statement.
Answer:
Incas were magnificient builders because :
(a) They built roads through mountains from Ecuador to Chile.
(b) Their forts were built of stone slabs that were so perfectly cut that they did not require mortar.
(c) Masons shaped the blocks, using an effective but simple method called flaking.
(d) Labour was organised and very tightly managed

Question 3. 
Describe in brief the important achievements of the Mayans:
Answer:
(i) The Mayan Calendar contained 365 days. There were 18 months in a year. Each month had 20 days. The rest of 5 days were considered bad time.
(ii) They had knowledge of mathematics. They had a symbol for zero. Their script was hieroglyphics. They wrote through pictures. They used paper for writing.

Question 4. 
Explain the Aztec policy towards education.
Answer:
(a) The Aztecs made sure that all children went to school.
(b) Children of the nobility attended the calmecac and were trained to become military and religious leaders.
(c) All others went to the tepo chili in their neighbourhood, where they learned history, myths, religion and ceremonial songs.
(d) Boys received military training as well as training in agriculture and the trades. Girls were trained in domestic skills.

Question 5. 
Explain the factors that contributed to the establishment of the Spanish Empire in the Americas.
Answer:
Factors that contributed to the establishment of the Spanish Empire in the Americas are:
(a) Spanish expansion was based on a display of military strength with the use of gunpowder and horses.

(b) The local people were compelled either to pay tribute or to work in gold and silver mines. The initial discovery was typically followed by establishing a small settlement, peopled by a few Spaniards who supervised the labour of the local inhabitants.

(c) Local chieftains were enlisted to explore new lands in search of gold. This greed for gold led to violent incidents provoking local resistance.

(d) To military repression and forced labour was added the ravages of disease. The diseases of the old world, particularly smallpox wreaked havoc on the Arawaks whose lack of immunity resulted in large scale deaths.

Question 6. 
Discuss the relationship between voyages of exploration and trade. Mention the immediate effects of the work of explorers on the people of Americas and Africa.
Answer:
There was a close relationship between voyages of exploration and trade. Voyages aimed at discovering new lands and setting up colonies there. Thus, from the aspect of trade, the newly discovered colonies proved beneficial in two ‘ways :
(a) These colonies provided raw material at lower rates.
(b) Manufactured goods were sold at higher rates in these colonies.
Thus, these colonies were used as trade markets.

Immediate effect on the Americas and Africa :
(a) The European conquest of the Americas destroyed the original civilisation of the continent.
(b) Many African countries lost their freedom.
(c) Slave trade began.

Question 7.
Write a short note on the economy of the Incase
Answer:
(a) The basis of the Inca civilisation was agriculture.    
(b) To cope with the infertile soil conditions, they terraced hill sides and developed systems of drainage and irrigation.
(c) The Incas grew com and potatoes and reared llamas for food and labour.
(d) Their weaving and pottery were of a high quality.

Question 8. 
How was the geographical discoveries of the 16th century responsible for bringing the Modern Age?
Answer:
(i) Establishing of Trade Companies and Colonies :  The Geographical discoveries led to the creation of intimate relationship between sailors and the traders. The Europeans, Portuguese, the English, the French and the Dutch established their companies to trade with India. They also built their empires in America.

(ii) Slave Trade : These voyages encourage the slave trade.
(iii) Spread of European Civilisation : The Europeans not only established their companies and colonies but also spread their civilisation in several other countries.
(iv) Prosperity : The discoveries of new lands and sea routes promoted trade and made many countries prosperous.
(v) Exchange of Knowledge : The new discoveries enlightened the people. Their outlook was broadened and they gave up their silly faiths and hollow superstitions. Thus, it helped in bringing about the Modern Age.

Question 9.
How did the Aztecr undertake and reclamations to meet the shortage of land ?
Answer:
The Aztec made artificial land by weaving huge see-mats and covering them with meed and plat. They constructed canals between these exceptionally fertile islands. Even their palaces and pyramids rose dramatically out of the lake.

Question 10. 
Mention some factors that ruined the life of African people in 15th to 19th century period.
Answer:
(i) Slave trade by colonisers and Americans:
(ii) Migration and conquest of colonisers, especially European countries.
(iii) Wrong impression of Africans being uncivilised, harsh and barbaric.

Question 11. 
Describe the following aspects of the Aztecs :
(a) Economic life 
(b) Cultural life
Answer:
(a) Economic life :
(i) The Aztecs had limited land, so they undertook reclamations i.e., conversion of wasteland into land suitable for habitation of cultivation.
(ii) They made chinampas i.e., artificial islands, in lake Mexico, by weaving reed-mats and covering them with mud and plants.
(iii) The empire rested on a rural base. People cultivated corns, beans, pumpkins and other crops.
(iv) Land was owned not by individuals but by clans, which also organised construction works.
(v) Peasants, like European serfs, were attatched to lands owned by the nobility and cultivated them in exchange for part of their harvest.

(b) Cultural life : Its palaces and pyramids rose dramatically out of the lake. Because the Aztecs were frequently engaged in war, the most impressive temples were dedicated to the gods of war and the son.

Question 12. 
What were the consequences of the discovery of no w sea routes ?
Or
Enumerate the impact of geographical discoveries of the 16th century.
Answer:
Discovery of r. : u sea routes in the 16th century led to the following consequences:
(a) It led to the or r on of an intimate relationship between the sailors and traders. The Europeans, Portuguese, the English, French and the Dutch established their companies to trade with India. They also built their empires in America.
(b) The voyages encouraged slave trade.
(c) The Europeans not only established their companies and colonies but also spread their civilisation in several other countries.
(d) The discoveries of new lands and sea routes promoted trade and made many countries prosperous.
(e) The new discoveries enlightened the people. Their outlook was broadened and they gave up their old faiths and superstitions. Thus it helped in bringing about the modem age.

Question 13. 
What do you know about the society of Aztecs ?
Answer:
The Aztecs society had the following features :
(a) Their society was hierarchical. The nobility included those who were nobles by birth, priests and others who had been awarded the rank.
(b) The hereditary nobility were a small minority who occupied the senior positions in the government; the army and the priesthood.
(c) The King was regarded as the representative of the sun on earth.
(d) Warriors, priests and nobles were the most respected groups but traders also enjoyed many privileges and often served the government as ambassadors and spies.
(e) Talented artisans, physicians and wise teachers were also respected.

Question 14.
Describe the Spanish policy towards the Arawaks. What were its consequences ?
Answer:
The Spanish people had fascination for gold. But the Arawaks were net so. The Arawaks were interested in glass beads and the art of weaving. The Spanish exchanged their gold for glass beads with the Arawaks. The Arawaks were very humble and generous people. They co-operated with the Spanish people in the beginning. But after sometime, the behaviour of Spanish towards the Arawaks changed. They became more furious and brutal towards them. It gave disastrous results.

Question 15. 
Who was Hernan Cortes ? Explain his conquest of Mexico.
Answer:
Cortes was an explorer from Spain who along with his soldiers conquered Mexico. His conquest of Mexico can be explained as follows :
(a) In 1519 AD, Cortes went over to Mexico from Cuba. In Mexico he made friends with the Totonacs (a group that wanted to remove the Aztec rule).

(b) Moiitezume was the Aztec king and he sent one of his official to meet Cortes. That official was terrified after looking at the aggressiveness, gunpowder and horses of Spanish people.

(c) Montezume was convinced that Cortes was the incarnation of an exiled god who had returned to avenge himself.

(d) The Spanish soldiers invaded the TlaxcalAnswer:Then they marched to Tenochtitlan and reached there on 8 Nov. 1519.

(e) Around 1520s, Montezuma died under mysterious circumstances. The Aztecs continued to fight the Spaniards. Finally Cortes became the Captain general of New Spain in Mexico and was showered with honours by Charles V.

Question 16. 
Which values enhance the importance of Peru in early 1550s ?
Answer:
The immence wealth of the silver mines of Peru enhance her importance.

Question 17. 
Describe a short note on the Mayan Culture.
Answer:
(i) The Mayan culture of Mexico developed remarkably between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries, but in the sixteenth century they had less political power than the Aztec’s.

(ii) Com cultivation was central to their culture and many religious ceremonies were centred on the planting, growing and harvesting of com.

(iii) Efficient agricultural production generated surplus, which helped the ruling classes, priests and chiefs to invest in architecture and in the development of astronomy and mathematics.

(iv) The Mayans devised a pictographic form of writing that has only been partially deciphered.    

Question 18. 
Which architecture values were the key feature of Incan buildings? 
Answer:
(i) Uses of large stones. 
(ii) Use of flaking technology.
(iii) Skilled and unskilled persons employed in construction works.

Question 19. 
Write a short note on Latin America.
Answer:
In the early nineteenth century, European settlers in the South American colonies were to rebel against Spain and Portugal and become independent countries, just as in 1776 the thirteen North American colonies rebelled against Britain and formed the United States of America. South America today is also called ‘Latin America’.

This is because Spanish and Portuguese, two of the main languages of the continent, are part of the Latin family of languages. The inhabitants are mostly native European (called Creole), European and African by origin. Most of them are Catholics. Their culture has many elements of nature traditions mixed with European ones.

Question 20. 
What were the main characteristic of Arawakian Lucayos ? What were the consequences of the brutal Spanish policy towards.
Answer:
The Arawakian Lucayos inhabited hundreds of small islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Greater Antilles. They had been expelled from the Lesser Antilles by a fierce tribe, the Caribs.

The Arawakian Lucayos did not believe in conflict. They preferred negotiation to conflict. They were boat-builders and used to sail the open sea in canoes made from hollow tree trunks. They lived by hunting, fishing and agriculture. Com, sweet potatoes, tubers and cassava were major agricutural produce. They produced foord callectively and fed everyone in the community.

Arawaki Culture : The Arawakian Lucayos were organised under clan elders. Polygamy was common. They were animists. As in many other societies, shamans played an important role as healers. and intermediaries between this world and that of the supernatural.

Contacts with Europeans and End of their life: The Arawakian Lucayos wore gold ornamentals but they did not attach the value to the gold as the Europeans did. They quite happy to exchange gold for glass beads which was brought by the Europeans, because these beads seemed so much more beautiful. They were highly skilled in the art of weaing. The hammock was one of their specialities, which the Europeands liked very much.

The Arawakian Lucayos were very generous. They were always ready to collaborate with the Spanish in their search for gold. When the Spanish policy became brutal, the were forced to resist. For this they had to have desastrous consequences. Within 25 years of contact with Spanish very little remained of the Arawakian Lucayos or their way of life.

Question 21. 
What do you know about Pizarro and the Incas ?
Answer:
(i) Pizarro had heard about the Inca kingdom as a land of silver and gold. He made repeated attempts to reach it from the Pacific. On one of his journeys back home, he was able to meet the Spanish king and show him beautifully designed gold jars of Inca workmanship. The king’s greed was aroused, and he promised Pizarro the governorship of the Inca lands if he conquered it. Pizarro planned to follow Cortes’ method, but was disconcerted to find that the situation in the Inca empire was different.

(ii) In 1532, Atahualpa secured the throne of the Inca empire after a civil war. Pizarro arrived on the scene and captured the king after setting a trap for him. The king offered a roomful of gold as ransom for his release - the most extravagant ransom recorded in history - but Pizarro did not honour his promise. He had the king executed, and his followers went on a looting spree. This was followed by the occupation of the country. The cruelty of the conquerors provoked an uprising in 1534 that continued for two years, during which time thousands died in war and due to epidemics.

(iii) In another five years, the Spanish had located the vast silver mines in Potosi (in Upper Peru, modern Bolivia) and to work these they made the Inca people into slaves.

Question 22. 
Compare the civilisation of the Aztecs with that of the Mesopotamians.
Answer:
Achievements of Mesopotamian Civilisation : 
(i) The Mesopotamians were the first people to introduce the use of the potter’s wheel to the world.
(ii) They were the first to enter into written trade agreements.
(iii) They introduced to the world the idea of a written code of law.
(iv) They were the first people to divide a day into 24 hours, an hour into 60 minutes and a minute into 60 seconds.
(v) They were the first develop a script and established the libraries and reading rooms.

Achievements of Aztec Civilisation :
(i) The society was divided among warriors, businessmen, artisans, farmers and slaves. They worshipped the sun and other gods.
(ii) The floating gardens were their special achievements.
(iii) Their pottery, cotton cloth and goldsmithy was very fine.    
(iv) Their script was pictorial. Their history was written in a pictorial manner.
(v) Their calendar had 260 days in a year. The calendar was related to religious occasions.

Question 23. 
What were the new developments helping European navigation in the 15th century ?
Answer:
The new developments helping European navigation in the 15th century were as follows :
(a) The magnetic compass had been invented in 1380 CE. It could help identify the cardinal points accurately.
(b) By this time many improvements were made in European sailing ships. Larger ships were built that could carry a huge quantity of cargo as well as equipment to defend themselves if attacked by enemy ships.
(c) Travel literature and books on cosmology and geography were available which created widespread interest. For instance, Ptolemy’s Geography said that regions of the world were arranged in terms of latitudes and longitudes and that the earth was spherical. This gave Europeans some knowledge of the world.

Question 24. 
When and by whom was America discovered ? Why did he call the people living there, Indians ?
Answer:
America was discovered by an Italian sailor named Columbus. He discovered it in 1492.
As Columbus had gone out to discover India therefore when he reached the island and saw some people there, he thought that he had reached India. So he called those people Indians. But afterwards he came to know that he had discovered the new world, which is now know as America. 

Question 25. 
Describe the exploration of Magellan.
Answer:
(i) He was a great sailor of Portugal. After a very long sail of the sea he discovered South America and Phillippine Islands in 1519.
(ii) Magellan, along with his companions succeeded in having a round of the whole world through sea and proved that earth is round.

Question 26. 
What were the reasons behind discoveries of new routes and new lands ?
Answer:
(i) Missionary Zeal: The Christian Missionaries were inspired to discover new lands to spread their religion.
(ii) Renaissance: The curiosity to achieve difficult targets made the men voyage loving and adventurous.
(iii) Invention of Mariner’s Compass : It made the sailors confident that they would not lose the way in bad weather and prompted them to explore new lands.
(iv) Craze for Trade : When Turkey capture Constantinople and the old trade route, the enthusiastic traders did not lose hope. They set out to discover new routes.

Question 27. 
Why was Africa called the ‘Dark Continent’ during the medieval period ?
Answer:
In the medieval period Africa was called ‘Dark continent’.
(i)  Africans were lived a very primitive and undeveloped life. They were not much aware of growth and so the continent was known as dark continent.
(ii) Africa in a state full of natural resources and forest treasure. The world was in dark about these resources of African continent.
(iii) Europeans and colonials migrated to Africa and found the land full of surprises.
(iv) The varied bribal culture and traditions,were explored by tourists and visitors to this land.
(v) Africans were shocked and astonished to the ways of outsiders and fell victim to the atrocities of introduers of their land. But by and by they got awareness and retaliated to the outsiders and got freedom from them.

Question 28. 
Write any two social values/ social norms which prove the position of women in Incan society was respectful.
Answer:
(i) They have right to education.
(ii) They enjoyed full social freedom.
(iii) They were given respect in the family.

Question 29. 
Which four scientific values enhance the achievements of American civilisations ?
Answer:
(i) Knowledge of Mathematics.
(ii) Knowledge of Medical Science.
(iii) Knowledge of writing script- Hieroglyphic.
(iv) Knowledge of calendars.

Question 30. 
The Incas empire was highly centralised, with the king representing the highest source of authority. Explain.
Answer:
(i) The empire was highly centralised with the king representing the highest source of authority.
(ii) Newly conquered tribes were absorbed effectively, every subject was required to speak "Quechu., the language of the court.
(iii) Each tribe was ruled independently by a council of elders, but the tribes as a whole owed its allegiance to the ruler. At the same time, local rulers were rewarded for their military co-operation.
(iv) Thus like the Aztec empire, the Inca empire resembled a confederacy, with the Incas in control. There are no precise figures of the population, but it would seem that it included over a million people. 

Long Answer Type Questions 

Question 1. 
Describe the achievements of the Inca and Aztec Civilisations.
Answer:
I. Achievements of Inca Civilisation :

(i) Palatial Buildings : The Inca Civilisation had many tall buildings. The buildings include palaces, temples and forts mostly made up of stones.

(ii) Beautiful Roads : There was a network of roads.

(iii) Cities : Each city was divided into four parts. Each city was ruled over by a noble.

(iv) Social Classes : The king was the head of the state. He inherited his power from the sun. After the king the nobies and priests came. The farmers and craftsmen were ordinary people.

(v) Engineering Skills : The Inca people were famous for their engineering skills. Their temples, bridges, forts and means of irrigation were of a unique construction.

(vi) Handicrafts : The Incas were perfect in weaving, pottery and making beautiful designs.

(vi) Agriculture : The fields were ladder type on mountains. They grew potatoes, maize and beets.

(vii) Script : They had no script. Their writing was of Quivce type.

II. Achievements of Aztec Civilisation :

(i)    Society : The society was divided among warriors, businessmen, artisans, farmers and slaves. They worshipped the sun and other gods.
(ii) Special Achievements : The floating gardens (Chinampas) were their special achievements.
(iii) Handicrafts : Their pottery, cotton cloth and goldsmithy was very fine.
(iv) Script : Their script was pictorial. Their history was written in pictorial manner.
(v) Calendar : Their calendar had 260 days in a year. Their calendar was related to religious occasions.

Question 2. 
Describe briefly the main achievements/characteristics of the Aztec people.
Answer:
The Civilisation of Aztecs : The Aztecs were also known as Tenochas. These people founded a great civilisation in Mexico during the 12th and the 14th centuries. Following were the main achievements of this civilisation :

(i) A Mighty Empire : The Aztecs had built a mighty empire about the year 1325 A.D. This empire was divided into 38 provinces and covered an area of about 2,00,000 square kilometres. Each province was ruled by a governor assisted by a garrison and several officers or tax collectors. This vast empire was ruled from two capital cities of Tenochtitlan and Tlateloco.

(ii) Crafts : Feather work and cotton weaving, a gold-work and the use of semi-precious stones like jade and turquoise were highly developed crafts. Their pottery also showed a wide range of variety.


(iii) Language : The Aztec language ‘Nahuatt’ is still a living language. They recorded the historical events in the form of pictographic accounts which are known as ‘Codices’.

(iv) Society : The Aztec society was divided into several classes i.e., warriors, merchants, craftsmen, farmers and serfs.

(v) Religion : The Aztecs worshipped a number of Gods like the Sun-God, the Corn- Goddess and several other Gods. The Corn- Goddess was considered to be the Mother of Gods. One of the Toltec Gods was worshipped as the God of learning and priesthood.

(vi) Calendar : The Aztec calendar consisted of 260 days. Their calendar was connected with the performance of religious ceremonies.

(vii) The Chinampas or ‘Floating Gardens’  The Aztecs had built floating gardens which were called ‘Chinampas’.

(viii) Knowledge of Metals : The Aztecs knew the art of metal-smelting, but the tools that they made were quite simple.

Question 3. 
Describe the main reasons of Spanish expansion.
Answer:
(i) The Spanish expansion was based on the display of military strength. The local people were compelled either to pay tribute or to work in gold and silver mines. Local chieftains were enlisted to explore new lands and hopefully, more sources of gold. The greed for gold led to violent incidents provoking local resistance. The Spanish Friar Bartolome de las casas, the most severe critic of the Spanish conquerors, observed that the Spanish often tested their swords on the naked flesh of Arawaks.

(ii) The expeditions of Columbus were followed by a sustained and successful exploration of Central and South America. The Spanish had explored and laid claim to a vast area of western hemisphere within half of century, from approximately latitudes 40 degrees noth to 40 degrees south, without any challenging.

(iii) The military representation and forced labour was added the ravages of disease. The diseases of the Old World, particularly smallpox wrecked havoc on the Arawaks. The local people imagined these diseases were caused by ‘invisible bullets’ with which the Spaniards attacked them. The extinction of the Arawaks and all traces of their way of life is a silent reminder of their tragic encounter with Spaniards.

(iv) Before this, the Spanish conquered lands of two great empires of the region. This was largely the work of two individuals: Hernan Cortes (1488-1547) and Francisco Pizarro (1478-1541). Their explorations were financed by members of the landed gentry in Spain, officials of municipal councils and noblemen. Those joining the expeditions sup-plied their own equipment in exchange for a share of the booty they expected from the con¬quests.

Question 4. 
Describe about the Arawakians and mention some facts regarding their culture.
Answer:
The Arawakians lived on a cluster of hundred of small islands in the Caribbean Sea, today known as the Greater Antilles. They had been expelled from the lesser Antilles by the Caribes, a fierce tribe. In contrast to them, the Arawaks were the people who preferred negotiation to conflict. They lived by hunting, fishing and agriculture, growing maize, sweet potatoes, tubers and cassava.

A central cultural value was the organisation of people to produce food collec-tively and feed everyone in the community. They were organised under clan elders. Po-lygamy was common. The Arawaks were ani- mists. Shamans played an important role as heaters and intermediaries between this world and that of the supernatural.

The Arawaks were generous and were happy to collaborate with the Spanish in their search for gold. It was when Spanish policy became brutal that they were forced to resist, but this was to have disastrous consequences for them. Very little remained of the Arawaks or their way of life.

People called the Tupinambo lived on the east coast of South America and in villages in the forests. They could not clear the dense forests for cultivation as they had no access to iron. But they had a healthy and plentiful supply of fruits, vegetables and fish, and so did not have to depend on agriculture. The Europeans who met them envied their happy freedom, with no king, army or church to regulate their lives.

The Arawaks used gold for ornaments but did not attach the value to the metal that the Europeans did. They were quite happy to ex-change gold for glass beads brought by the Europeans, because these seemed so much more beautiful. The art of weaving was highly developed.

Question 5. 
Narrate the chief causes of the new geographical discoveries ?
Answer:
Causes of the New Geographical Discoveries : The following causes led to the geographical discoveries during this period :
(i) Need of the Oriental Goods : There was a great demand for the eastern goods in the European countries. They needed spices to preserve food. Luxury goods were also required for the rich families. They needed various oriental commodities such as spices, drugs, silk, gold, precious stones, cotton goods, perfumes etc. The increased demand for these goods compelled the Europeans to find new trade-routes to the East.

(ii) Mariner’s Compass : Before the end of the 13th century Mariner’s Compass was introduced into Europe. This was a very important invention. The Mariner's Compass helped the sailors to know the direction they were going. So they could undertake long voy-ages far from the sight of the land. Ships were improved so that they became more sea-wor-thy. Better and accurate maps were prepared for the guidance of the sailors. All these in¬ 
ventions stimulated the exploring spirit of the people.

(iii) Geographical Knowledge : Geographical knowledge, skill and experience greatly helped the exploration work. Several books on travel were written in the 14th century. ‘A Merchant’s Handbook’ described all the known trade-routes between the West and the Far East. ‘Secrets of the Faithful Crusader’ told about the cities of Asia.

Many other books on travel such as the ‘Far East’, the ‘Holy Lands’ and ‘Africa’ came into the hands of the Europeans and increased their geographical knowledge. At the same time it was proved that the earth is round and not flat. This im-provement in geographical knowledge gave a great impetus to travel and explorations.

(iv) Propagation of Christianity : The Christian missionaries had a strong desire to propagate Christianity in all parts of the world. Some rulers also wanted to discover new lands to spread their faith in every comer of the world, over and above amassing a great wealth. The desire to spread Christianity was an important factor in the discovery of new lands. Sometimes, the missionaries accompanied the sailors to explore unknown countries.

(v) Spirit of the Adventure : The men of the Renaissance period were very enthusiastic and adventurous. To satisfy their love for adventure they were ever-ready to face difficulties and dangers. They sailed into un-known lands and established contacts with other parts of the world which were not known previously.

(vi) Fall of Constantinople : The trade between the West and the East was carried through the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. But when the Turks captured Constantinople the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire in 1453 A.DM these trade routes were closed to the traders of the West and gave a severe blow to their commerce. They were forced to find new routes and new lands. Thus the commercial considerations were largely responsible for the early explorations.

(vii) Effects of the Renaissance: People in the Middle Ages were superstitious, orthodox and narrow-minded. But the Renaissance created a spirit of enquiry, widened their outlook and broadened their mental horizon, consequently, they became enthusiastic, undertook difficult sea-voyages and discovered new lands.

(viii) Hunger for Wealth : The riches of the West also tempted the Europeans:They had a great hunger for wealth and wanted to have a flourishing trade and commerce with the eastern countries. This desire was so strong in them that they were prepared to face hazards in discovering new sea routes and countries.

Question 6. 
What were the after affects of the destruction of Aztecs and Incas ?
Answer:
(i) The destruction of two major civilisations Aztecs and Incas in America highlights the contrasts between the two cultures in combat.

(ii) The nature of warfare played a crucial role in terrorising local inhabitants psychologically and physically.

(iii) In 1601, Philip II of Spain publicly banned forced labour, but made arrangements by a secret decree for its continuation.

(iv) Slavery was not a new idea, but the South American experience was new in that it accompanied the emerging capitalist system of production. Working conditions were horrific, but the Spanish regarded the exploitation as essential to their economic gain.

(v) As new economic activities began-cattle farming on lands cleared of forests, and mining after the discovery of gold in 1700- the demand for cheap labour continued.

(vi) It was clear that the local people would resist enslavement. The alternative was to turn to Africa. Between the 1550s and 1880s (when slavery wlas abolished in Brazil, over 3,600,000 African slaves were imported into Brazil.

Question 7. 
Why did the Portuguese eager more to increase their trade with Western India than with Brazil ? Explain.
Answer:
(i) The Portuguese were more eager to increase their trade with Western India than with Brazil, which did not promise any gold. But there was one natural resource there which they exploited: timber. The brazil wood tree, after which the Europeans named the region, produced a beautiful red dye. The natives readily agreed to cut the trees and carry the logs to the ships in exchange for iron knives and saws, which they regarded as marbels.

(ii) The Portuguese occupation of Brazil occurred by accident. In 1500, a grand procession of ships set out from Portugal for India, headed by Pedro Alvares Cabral. To avoid stormy seas, he made a wide loop around West Africa, aid found a surprise that he had reached the coast of present day Brazil. This eastern part of South America was within the section assigned on the map of Portugal by the Pope, so they regarded it as indisputable theirs.

(iii) The trade in timber led to fierce battles between Portuguese and French traders. The Portuguese won because they decided to ‘settle’ in colonise the coast. In 1534 the king of Portugal divided the coast of Brazil into fourteen hereditary ‘captaincies’. To the Portuguese who wanted to live there he gave land ownership rights, and the right to make the local people into slaves. Many Portuguese settlers were veterans of the wars in Goa, in India, and were brutal to the local people.

(iv) The natives kept retreating into the forests to escape the ‘slavers’ and, as time went on, there were hardly any native villages on the coast; instead, there were large, well-laid- out European towns. Plantation owners were then forced to turn to another source for slaves; West Africa. This was a contrast to the Spanish colonies. A large part of the population in the Aztec and Inca empires had been used to labouring in mines and fields, so the Spanish did not need to formally enslave them or to look elsewhere for slaves.

(v) In 1540s, the Portuguese began to grow sugarcane on large plantation and built mills to extract sugar, which was then sold in Europe. In this very hot and humid climate they depend on the natives to work the sugar mills. When the natives refused to do this exhausting and dreary work, the mill-owner resorted to kindnapping them to work as slaves.

(vi) In 1549, a formal government under the Portuguese king was established, with the capital in Bahia/Salvador. From this time, Jesuits started to go out to Brazil. European settlers disliked them because they argued for humane interaction with the natives, ventured into the forests to live in villages and sought to teach them Christianity as a joyous religion. Above all, the Jesuits strongly criticised slavery.

Question 8. 
How did the discovery of South Americas lead to the development of European colonisation.
Answer:
From the fifteenth century, Europe came to know about sea passages from ocean to ocean with maritime projects of different countries. Before this, Europeans were not familiar with most of these pasages. Some of them were even not known to anyone. No ship had reached the Caribbean or the Americas. Whole of the South Atlantic was unexplored. No sea-going ship had ever entered its water. But all these feats were accomplished in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.

Besides the initial voyages, the discovery of the Americas had long lasting consequences for other Europeans also. The flood of gold and silver increased international trade and industrialisation. Between 1560 and 1600, hundreds of ships carried silver each year to Spain from South American mines. But alone Spain and Portugal were benefited with this. 

It was because they did not invest their huge income in further trade or making their merchant navy strong. Instead, other European countries like England, France, Belgium and Holland took maximum advantage from these discoveries. Their merchants sent out trading expeditions and formed joint stock companies. They established colonies in discovered lands and introduced may products of New World in the Europe like cane sugar, potatoes, tobacco, rubber and cacao. Theri these products were taken to other countries like India.

The immediate consequences of these expeditions for the native people of the Americas were as follows :
(i) Local populations were physically decimated.
(ii) Their way of life was destroyed.
(iii) They were enslaved in mines,plantations and mills. The enslavement of the population was a clear proof of the brutality of the encounter. It helped in the emergence of captial system of production. Worse working conditions were there. But Spanish owners were of the view that this exploitation was essential for their economic gain.

Question 9. 
Describe expansion of Aztec empire and who were forced to pay tribute.
Answer:
(i) Aztec society was hierarchical. This included those who were nobles by birth, priests and others who had been awarded the rank.

(ii) The king was regarded as the representative of the sun or earth.

(iii) The empire rested on a rural base. People cultivated corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, manioc root, potatoes and other crops.

(iv) Land was owned not by individuals but by clans, which also organised public construction works.

(v) Since land was, Aztecs made chinampas, artificial islands, in Lake Mexico, by weaving huge reed-mats and covering them with mud and plants. Between these exceptionally Fertile islands, canals were constructed on which in 1325, the capital city Tenochtitlan was built.

(vi) The Aztecs made sure that all children went to school. Children of the nobility attended the calmecac and were trained to become military and religious leaders. All others went to tepochcalli in their neighbourhood, where they learned history, myths, religion and ceremonial songs. Boys received military training as well as training in    agriculture and the trade. Girls were trained in domestic skills.  

 

Question 10. 
Discuss the adventure and glory of Christopher Columbus in detail
Answer:
(i) Believing in prophecies, he was convinced that his destiny lay in discovering I a route to the East (the ‘Indies’) by sailing westwards. He was inspired by reading Imago Mundi by Cardinal Pierre d’Ailly written in 1410. He submitted his plans to the Portuguese crown, only to have them turned down. He had better luck with the Spanish authorities who sanctioned a modest expedition that set sail from the port of Palos on 3 August, 1492.

(ii) Nothing, however, prepared Columbus and his crew for the long Atlantic crossing that they embarked upon, or for the destination that awaited them. The fleet was small, consisting of a small nao called Santa Maria, and two caravels (small light ships)named Pinta and Nina.

Columbus himself commanded the Santa Maria along with 40 capable sailors. The outward journey enjoyed fair trade winds but was long. For 33 days, the fleet sailed without sight of anything but sea and sky. By this time, the crew became restive and some of them demanded that they turn back.

(iii) On 12 October, 1492, they sighted land, they have reached what columbus thought was India, but which was the island of Guanahani in the Bahamas. They were welcomed by the Arawaks, who were happy to share their food and provisions, in fact the generosity made a deep impression upon Columbus.

As he wrote in his log-book, “There are so ingenous and free with all they have, that no one would believe it who has not seen of it, anything they possess, if it be asked of them, they never say no. On the contrary, they invite you to share it and show as much love as if their hearts went with it.

(iv) Columbus planted a Spanish flage in Guanahani, held a prayer service and without consulting the local people, proclaimed himself viceroy. He enlisted their co-operation in pressing forward to the larger islands of Cubanascan (Cuba, which he thought was Japan) and Kiskeya.

(v) But before they could get very far, the expedition was overtaken by accidents and had to face the hostility of the fierce Carib tribes. The men clamoured to get back home. The return voyage proved more difficult as the ships were worm-eaten and the crew tired and homesick. The entire voyage took 32 weeks.

Three more voyages followed, in the course of which Columbus completed his explorations in the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles, the South American mainland and its coast. Subsequent voyages revealed that it was not the ‘Indies’’ that the Spaniards had found, but a new continent.

(vi) The achievements of Columbus discover the boundaries of what seemed like infinite seas and to demonstrate that five weeks sailing with the trade wind took one to the other side of the globe. Since places are often given the names of individuals, it is curious that Columbus is commemorated only in a small district in the USA and in a country in north-western South America, though he did not reach either of these areas. The two continents were named after Amerigo Vespucci, a geographer from Florence who realised how large the might be and described them as the ‘New World’.

Question 11. 
Describe the trade in African slaves from the 17th century to 19th century.
Answer:
Selling and buying human beings as cattle is termed as slavery. It was one of the heinous practices that corrupted the human society at one time or the other. This trade is human beings was introduced by the Portuguese, in the late fifteenth century. They themselves or their agents, would attack the coastal villages of Africa and sell the captive Africans, as slaves in the world market. 

In Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, there was a regular market where these African slaves were bought and sold. It was from here that the Spanish merchants bought these unfortunate men, women and children, to work like animals in their American colonies. One shivers to the spine to imagine how brutally these slaves were treated and made to work in the fields and mines. Any slave who attempted to escape from this hell was butchered or tortured to death mercilessly.

Abolition of Slavery : This hateful trade in slaves went on till the middle of the 19th century. The English, too, followed the Portuguese in this respect. But gradually the human conscience revolted against this heinous practice. The American President Abraham Lincoln did a meritorious job by abolishing slavery in America by passing laws, where it was declared that slaves were free citizens with no bonds and have equal rights. 

For this bold and glorious act, he had to lay down his own life when he fell a martyr to an assassin’s bullet. But this martyrdom paved the way for the abolition of slavery in almost all the civilized nations and at present it has ceased to exist in that form everywhere in the world.

Question 12. 
Discuss the economic system of the original American cultures.
Answer:
The original American cultures imply the cultures of the Maya, Aztec and Inca civilisations.
(i) Economy of the Maya civilisation was rested on agricultural base. Corn was the major produce of that time. Some of the people were engaged in the making and dyeing of cloth and other handicrafts.

(ii) Metallurgy, utensil-making and weaving of cotton cloth were the main occupations of the Aztecs. Some people were agriculturalists. They cultivated mainly com, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

(iii) Economy of the Incas was concerned with gold and silver. Decoration pieces and other items were made of these metals. Some people were engaged in trade, which was run on exchange of goods.

Question 13. 
‘Aztec Society was actually hierarchical’. Explain this statement with examples.
Answer:
Aztec society was actually a hierarchical society. Nobles, priests and others, who were given the ranks, were included in the nobility. The hereditary nobles were small in number. They were given the senior positions in the army, the priesthood and the government. The nobles chose their leader among them who ruled until his death. The king was observed as the representative of the sun on earth. Three groups were most respected in the society and these were warriors, priests and nobles.

Traders were also given a number of privileges. They often worked for the government as ambassadors and spies. Except these physicians, talented artists and wise teachers were also respected in the society. The poor sometimes sold their children as slaves. But this was generally only for a limited period. It was possible for slaved to buy bolk their Freedom. 

Source Based Questions 

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follows : 

Dona Marina: Bernard Diaz de Castillo (1495-1584) wrote in his True History of the Conquest of Mexico that the people of Tabasco gave Cortes a woman attendant called Dona Marina. She was fluent in three local languages, and was able to play a crucial role as interpreter for Cortes. ‘This was the great beginning of our conquests, and without Dona Marina we could not have understood the langaage of New Spain and Mexico’.Diaz thought she was a princess, but the Mexicans called her ‘Malinche’, a word meaning ‘betrayal’. Malinchista means someone who slavishly copies the costumes and language of another people.

(i) Who was Dona Marina ?
Answer:
She was a princess of Cortes.

(ii) What is the meaning of ‘Malinche’ ? 
Answer:
The meaning of‘Malinche’ is betrayal. 

(iii) By whom this passage is written ? 
Answer:
This passage is written by Bernard Diaz del Castilio. 

 Map Questions

Question 1. 
On the map of Central America mark and locate the Caribbean Islands. 
Answer:

Question 2. 
On the map of South America mark and locate Peru and Quito.
Answer:

Question 3. 
On the given map of Africa mark Iboland, Angola, Gori and Madagascar the places related to slave trade.
Answer:

Choose the Correct Option:

Question 1. 
In which of the following year the Turks occupy Constantinople ?
(a) 1465    
(b) 1453
(c) 1473    
(d) 1460
Answer:
(b) 1453.

Question 2. 
When was Compass invented ?
(a) 1380    
(b) 1480
(c) 1390    
(d) 1490
Answer:
(a) 1380.

Question 3. 
Which invention helped us to determine the direction ?
(a) Compass
(b) Scale    
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Telescope 
Answer:
(a) Compass.

Question 4. 
When was Telescope invented ?
(a) 1619    
(b) 1719
(c) 1609    
(d) 1709
Answer:
(c) 1609.

Question 5. 
Who was Ptolemy ? 
(a) An Historian    
(b) A Geographer
(c) A Scholar    
(d) A Thinker
Answer:
(b) A Geographer.

Question 6. 
Name the traveller who reached in the court of Qubilai Khan in 1275 ?
(a) Newton    
(b) Ptolemy
(c) Ibn-Babuta    
(d) Marco Polo
Answer:
(d) Marco Polo.

Question 7. 
Which one among the following was known as ‘Henry the Navigator’ ?
(a) Prince Henry
(b) Charles VI
(c) Henry Louis XVI
(d) Henry XIV 
Answer:
(a) Prince Henry.

Question 8. 
Who is the author of the book ‘Imago Mundi’ ?
(a) Marco Polo
(b) Ptolemy
(c) Cardinal Pierre diailly
(d) None of these
Answer:
(c) Cardinal Pierre diailly. 

Question 9. 
‘Guanahani’ island was renamed as:
(а) San Salvador
(b) Cuba 
(c) Carb
(d) Hispaniola 
Answer:
(a) San Salvador.

Question 10. 
In which of the following years Hernando Cortes left Cuba ?
(a) 1514    
(b) 1519
(c) 1610    
(d) 1619
Answer:
(b) 1519.

Question 11.
Which was the capital city of Aztec?
(a) Cuba    
(b) Cyprus
(c) Tenochtitlan 
(d) San Salvador
Answer:
(c) Tenochtitlan.

Question 12.
Which was the famous deity of Aztecs ?
(a) Mexitli    
(b) Peru
(c) Florid    
(d) Cyprus
Answer:
(a) Mexitli.

Question 13.
Which was the real motivational factor behind voyages of discoveries ?
(a) To enslave the people
(b) To spread Christianity
(c) To earn wealth 
(d) All of the above
Answer:
(d) All of the above.

Question 14. 
Name the navigator who discovered Philippine.
(а) Vasco-da-Gama
(b) Columbus
(c) Magellan
(d) None of these 
Answer:
(c) Magellan.

Question 15. 
When did Pizarro conquer Inca Kingdom ?
(a) 1501    
(b) 1571
(c) 1601    
(d) 1671
Answer:
(b) 1571.

Question 16. 
Who discovered America ?
(a) Pizarro    
(b) Columbus
(c) Magellan    
(d) Vasco-de-Gama
Answer:
(b) Columbus.

Question 17. 
How many days there were in Mayan Calendar ?
(a) 28    
(b) 30
(c) 31    
(d) 20
Answer:
(d) 20.

Question 18. 
Who destroyed the power of Toltakis in 1220 ?
(a) Incas    
(b) Mayans
(c) Aztecs    
(d) Arawakians
Answer:
(c) Aztecs.