Unit 1 Multiple Choice Questions
The early civilizations of America were basically _______ age cultures. a. bronze b. stone c. wood d. iron e. agricultural
answer- b
Spanish Florida: a. attracted large numbers of settlers. b. became a British colony in 1607. c. was little more than an isolated military settlement. d. was the site of Juan Oñate's attack on the inhabitants of Acoma. e. attracted mostly elderly Spaniards.
answer- c
All except which of the following were negative results of the exploration and discovery era: a. Warfare, slavery, and disease killed millions of Indians. b. Many plants native to the Americas were displaced by European imports. c. Millions of Africans were enslaved and transported to other parts of the world. d. The Asian nations of China, India, and Japan became the wealthiest and most powerful countries in the world. e. European animals overran American rivals.
answer- d
According to Bartolomé de Las Casas: a. Spain needed to institute a more humane system of Native American slavery in order to avoid offending Pope Paul III. b. Spain had caused the deaths of millions of innocent people in the New World. c. despite his opposition to slavery, he needed to keep his slaves so that he would have time to devote to working for abolition and emancipation. d. slavery needed to be eliminated entirely from the earth. e. converting Native Americans to anything but Catholicism would lead to their death.
answer- not a
How did Spain justify enslaving Native Americans? a. The Spanish believed that enslavement could liberate Native Americans from their backwardness and savagery and introduce them to Christian civilization. b. Pope Alexander VI had approved Spanish slavery but banned slavery in Portuguese holdings in the New World. c. The writings of Bartolomé de Las Casas explained that the Bible approved slavery and that therefore it was acceptable. d. If England and France were to be defeated in the quest for empire, Spain needed to take a step they had avoided, imposing slavery upon the native population. e. The Spanish actually never enslaved Native Americans; the charge that they did was simply part of the "Black Legend" spread by the English and other enemies.
answer-a
Most European Christians viewed the Indians as: a. subhuman, soulless devil worshippers. b. innocent, childlike people who should be treated kindly. c. sophisticated people who were morally and ethically superior to the inhabitants of Asia and Europe. d. descendants of the ancient survivors of the lost continent of Atlantis. e. one of the lost tribes of Israel.
answer-a
The Spanish set up outposts from Florida to South Carolina in part because: a. Spanish missionaries hoped to convert local Native Americans to Christianity. b. English colonists from Virginia were attacking Spanish settlements. c. they sought to prevent the escape of African slaves to English colonies located north and east of the Savannah River. d. the discovery of gold mines in central Florida meant that other powers were likely to encroach on Spanish territories. e. they needed to protect St. Augustine, which became capital of New Spain in 1542.
answer-a
The most likely reason for European success in conquering the American Indian population is: a. the prolonged isolation of the Americas from the rest of the world. b. the superiority of European civilizations. c. the warlike savagery of the Europeans. d. the passivity of Native Americans. e. the success of the priests in converting them to Christianity.
answer-a
The mound builders and the Anasazi were similar in that both: a. were primarily hunter-warrior societies. b. depended on the horse as the major beast of burden. c. were complex societies that developed north of Mexico. d. had developed a written language. e. were the ancestors of the Mayans and the Aztecs.
answer-a
When Europeans arrived, many Native Americans: a. tried to use them to enhance their standing with other Native Americans. b. immediately opened treaty negotiations. c. learned their languages. d. hid in nearby cave dwellings. e. simply attacked them.
answer-a
Why did European exploration of the New World proceed so rapidly after Columbus's discoveries? a. Gutenberg's invention of the printing press enabled the rapid dissemination of information. b. England, France, and Spain united to fund exploration, eliminating one of the problems that Columbus had faced. c. Spain was determined to protect the Native Americans against Protestant missionaries from rival European states, inspiring the government to fund numerous expeditions. d. The amount of gold that Columbus brought back to Spain was so inspiring that other countries inevitably followed suit. e. The Dutch became involved and had more money than other countries to finance expeditions, so those other countries worked together and raced against the Dutch for control.
answer-a
Amerigo Vespucci: a. named the New World after himself. b. helped to correct Columbus's theory that he had found a route to Asia. c. agreed with Columbus that Native Americans were East Indians. d. was funded by the English. e. actually named the continent Vespucci, but it was changed.
answer-b
Indian societies in North America: a. made little distinction between gender roles b. tended to divide tasks according to gender. c. put women in important political positions d. did not allow women to exercise any control over social or economic matters
answer-b
The Columbian Exchange was: a. the agreement that documented what Christopher Columbus would give to Spanish leaders in return for their sponsorship of his travel to the New World. b. the transatlantic flow of plants, animals, and germs that began after Christopher Columbus reached the New World. c. John Cabot's exploration of the New World, which brought more of the goods that Columbus had found back to the Old World. d. responsible for introducing corn, tomatoes and potatoes to the Americas. e. the first store in the New World, named for the man who founded it.
answer-b
The Spanish system of labor control that allowed a person to exploit the native labor force for a certain period of time was called: a. bandeirante. b. encomienda. c. casa grande d. hacienda. e. requerimiento.
answer-b
The city situated along the Mississippi River with between 10,000 and 30,000 residents in the year 1200 is today known as: a. Poverty Point. b. Cahokia. c. Pueblo Bonita. d. Iroquois. e. Tenochtitlan.
answer-b
The transatlantic flow of people and goods such as corn, potatoes, horses, and sugar cane is called: a. globalization. b. the Columbian Exchange. c. the Great Circuit. d. the Atlantic system. e. trade.
answer-b
Which of the following was true of Christopher Columbus? a. He accurately calculated the circumference of the Earth to be 26,000 miles. b. He was an Italian navigator whose four voyages to the West were financed by the Spanish. c. He was the first person to believe that the Earth is round. d. He rejected offers from England and Portugal to finance his voyages. e. He received land, titles, and wealth from his discoveries and died the richest commoner in Europe.
answer-b
Both the Aztec and Inca empires were: a. rural and poor. b. small in population, but sophisticated in infrastructure. c. large, wealthy, and sophisticated. d. large in geographic size, but sparsely populated. e. rural, with few impressive buildings.
answer-c
How did French involvement in the fur trade change life for Native Americans? a. It didn't; Native Americans were already hunting beaver and buffalo for their skins. b. Native Americans benefited economically but were able to avoid getting caught in European conflicts and rivalries. c. The French were willing to accept Native Americans into colonial society. d. The English and French quests for beaver pelts virtually destroyed theNative American population. e. It forced Native Americans to learn new trapping techniques that were far superior to their old ways.
answer-c
New France was characterized by: a. severe conflict between French settlers and the Indians. b. a well-defined line between Indian society and French society. c. more peaceful European-Indian relations than existed in New Spain. d. a Protestant missionary zeal to convert the Indians. e. its lack of devastating epidemics.
answer-c
The Black Legend described: a. the Aztecs' view of Cortés. b. English pirates along the African coast. c. Spain as a uniquely brutal colonizer. d. Portugal as a vast trading empire. e. Indians as savages.
answer-c
The Pueblo Indians encountered by the Spanish in the sixteenth century: a. had engaged in settled village life only briefly before the Spanish arrived. b. had been almost completely isolated from any other people before the Spanish arrived. c. used irrigation systems to aid their agricultural production. d. were called mound builders for the burial mounds they created. e. created a vast empire that included control of the Incas.
answer-c
The Spanish empire in America: a. included most of the populated part of the New World but few of its natural resources, making the empire rich in people but poor economically. b. paled in comparison with the ancient Roman Empire. c. was, unlike the French and English New World empires, a mostly urban civilization. d. was centered in Lima, Peru. e. allowed religious freedom and therefore attracted colonists from throughout Europe
answer-c
The era of exploration contributed to world progress by: a. promoting peaceful and friendly relations between different ethnic groups. b. spreading technology. c. bringing previously isolated societies into contact with other nations and cultures. d. promoting religious toleration and ending the persecution of non-Christians around the globe. e. all of the above.
answer-c
What role did religion play in the Columbus's explorations? a. None whatsoever b. Columbus was determined to convert Native Americans to Christianity. c. Catholics in Spain and Italy supported his expeditions because they wanted to end Muslim control of the eastern trade. d. Columbus benefited from Ferdinand and Isabella's efforts to promote tolerance in Spain. e. Spain wanted Columbus to find a refuge for the Jews the king was driving out of the country.
answer-c
Which of the following is not true of the Spanish conquistadores? a. They conquered two major empires in the Americas and greatly increased the wealth and power of Spain. b. They succeeded in part because smallpox decimated the Indian population. c. They led huge armies of 50,000 to 100,000 well-trained Europeans. d. They destroyed religious items of the native people. e. They searched unsuccessfully for fabulous golden cities in North America.
answer-c
Which one of the following is true of agriculture in Spanish America? a. African-American slaves performed most of the labor. b. The main crops were vastly different than they had been before Spain's arrival. c. Spain introduced wheat as a crop. d. Indian slaves did the work on small-scale farms. e. Catholic priests were forbidden to be involved in farming.
answer-c
In 1519, who became the first European explorer to encounter the Aztec empire: a. Vasco da Gama b.Ferdinand Magellan c. John Cabot d. Hernán Cortés e. Francisco Pizzaro
answer-d
In the New World, the Columbian Exchange generally resulted in: a. the introduction of infectious diseases. b. the staggering loss of indigenous populations. the introduction of domesticated animals such as cattle and horses. c. the introduction of food crops such as wheat. d. all of these
answer-d
Pueblo Indians lived in what is now: a. the eastern United States. b. the southwestern United States. c. Mexico. d. the northeastern United States. e. Central America.
answer-d
The Hopewell, Mississippian, and Pueblo peoples were similar in their creation of: a. small-scale communities of hunters and farmers. b. pyramids. c. hieroglyphic writing. d. elaborate ceremonial and urban sites.
answer-d
What was the foundation for the prosperous Native American societies in Mexico, Peru, and the Mississippi River Valley? a. Bison hunting b. Gold and silver mining c.Slave trade d. Maize, beans, squash
answer-d
Which of the following was NOT a technique that Spanish conquistadores used to conquer Native American empires? a. Kidnapping a leader and holding him for ransom b. Dividing and conquering them by taking advantage of old rivalries c. Relying upon the spread of diseases, even though they may not have been introduced intentionally d. Negotiating treaties e. Using their superior military technology
answer-d
Bartolomé de Las Casas argued that Indians: a. could be enslaved because they lacked true religion. b. were more akin to beasts than humans. c. should overthrow their cruel Spanish masters and reestablish the Inca and Aztec empires. d. were treated well by the Spanish. e. should enjoy "all guarantees of liberty and justice" as subjects of Spain.
answer-e
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Indian societies of the Americas: a. were all primitive, nomadic hunters and gatherers. b. were democratic cultures in which all members, including women, could vote. c. used bronze and iron for tools and weapons. d. had all developed a written language. e. were Stone Age cultures
answer-e
The "Five Nations" of the colonial period were: a. England, Spain, France, Holland, and Sweden. b. a European mutual defense league dedicated to reducing the power of Spain. c. the first South American countries to win independence from European colonial powers. d. the lost tribes of Israel. e. an Iroquois confederation that usually maintained friendly relations with the English.
answer-e
The Spanish justified their claim to land in the New World through all of the following EXCEPT: a. believing that their culture was superior to that of the Indians. b. violence. c. a missionary zeal. d. a decree from the Pope. e. defeating the English fleet in 1588.
answer-e
Which one of the following is true about Native Americans and material wealth? a. Chiefs were expected to share some of their goods rather than hoard them. b. Eastern Native Americans were more materialistic than those who lived west of the Mississippi. c. Wealth mattered less to them than to Europeans, but inherited social status was equally important to both peoples. d. Native Americans actually suffered more social inequality than Europeans did. e. Native Americans had no material wealth.
answer-e
Which one of the following was true of French relations with Native Americans? a. The French appropriated significant amounts of land for fur trading. b. The French were proud that they were considered tougher on Indians than their English and Spanish counterparts. c. The French sent nuns to try to Christianize the natives, because they understood that gender relations were different among Native Americans than they were among whites. d. Native Americans resented that the French had no need for their help in the fur trade. e. Jesuit missionaries tried to convert Native Americans, but gave them far more independence than did Spanish missionaries.
answer-e
true or false: The Indians of North America believed that land was a common resource and the basis of economic life.
answer-true
Alarmed by the destructiveness of the conquistadores, the Spanish crown replaced them with a more stable system of government headed by: a. lawyers and bureaucrats. b. bishops of the Catholic Church. c. landed wealthy elite. d. elected local officials. e. entrepreneurs.
answer=a
The first center of the Spanish empire in America: a. was a prosperous settlement that Columbus created. b. was the island of Hispaniola c. fell to Dutch raiders in 1506. d. resulted from Columbus's last voyage to the New World in 1502. e. was Cuba.
answer=b
Before the arrival of Columbus, Native North Americans: a. had elaborate trade networks. b. were entirely agricultural and rural. c. from all regions of the continent were very similar in their political and religious beliefs. d. always lived in small family units. e. lived only in coastal areas.
answer=c
Which of the following is true of Spain's explorations of the New World: a. Individual conquistadores always traveled alone. b. Members of the Spanish parties suffered greatly from disease. c. Florida was the first region in the present-day United States that Spain colonized. d. Spain sought to forestall Portuguese incursions into the New World. e. Spain's explorations had no impact on the size of the Native American population.
answer=c
The major reason that western Europe engaged in explorations in the fifteenth century was: a. the desire to spread Christianity. b. to export domestic products. c. to control the oceans. d. to expand trade with the non-Christian world. e. to escape the Black Death
answer=d
