15th and 16th century Explorers and Navigators Quiz

How much do you know about 15th and 16th-century explorers and navigators? Test your knowledge with this fun quiz.

15th and 16th century Explorers and Navigators

Q1) "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue" under the patronage of the "Catholic Reyes", Isabella and Ferdinand, but what nationality was Columbus?

Spanish

Portuguese

English

Italian

Correct! He was born in Genoa in 1451.

Wrong! He was Italian and was born in Genoa in 1451.

Q2) Was Columbus the first European explorer to reach North America?

Yes

Correct! It is thought that the Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson landed there in the 11th century.

Wrong! It is thought that the Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson landed there in the 11th century.

Q3) Under whose patronage was Italian explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) when he landed at what he called "the "new found land" and what is thought to be Cape Bonavista, Newfoundland?

Henry VII

Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon

Maximilian I

Francis I

Correct! He gave Cabot and his sons letters patent in 1496.

Wrong! It was Henry VII. He gave Cabot and his sons letters patent in 1496.

Q4) Who was the first English navigator to reach Japan and was the the model for the character of John Blackthorne the best-selling novel Shōgun?

John Hawkins

William Adams

Martin Frobisher

John White

Correct! He arrived in Japan in April 1600.

Wrong! It was William Adams and her arrived in Japan in April 1600.

Q5) Which English explorer undertook three voyages to find the Northwest passage, under the patronage of Elizabeth I, in 1576, 1577 and 1578?

Francis Drake

Walter Ralegh

Martin Frobisher

Richard Grenville

Correct!

Wrong! It was Martin Frobisher.

Q6) Which English sailor and navigator died at the 1591 Battle of Flores while serving as captain of the "Revenge"?

Francis Drake

Humphrey Gilbert

John Hawkins

Richard Grenville

Correct! Grenville took part in attempts to settle the New World, serving as admiral of the fleet which took English settlers to establish a military colony on Roanoke Island in 1585.

Wrong! It was Sir Richard Grenville. Grenville took part in attempts to settle the New World, serving as admiral of the fleet which took English settlers to establish a military colony on Roanoke Island in 1585.

Q7) Which English navigator discovered Novaya Zemlya and the Viagatz Strait?

John Hawkins

Francis Drake

Stephen Borough

Walter Ralegh

Correct! The strait was called the Burrough Strait until the late 1800s.

Wrong! It was Stephen Borough (Burrough) and the strait was called the Burrough Strait until the late 1800s.

Q8) Sir Francis Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Globe and his ship was renamed The Golden Hinde when he got back to England, what was its original name?

The Swallow

The Edward Bonaventure

The Pelican

The Serchthrift

Correct!

Wrong! It was the Pelican.

Q9) As well as being a naval commander and navigator, John Hawkins is known for .........

Being England's first slave-trader

Bringing tobacco to England

Introducing the potato in to England

Bringing the largest hoard of gold back to England

Correct! In 1562 he violently kidnapped 400 Africans in Guinea and then went on to trade them in the West Indies.

Wrong! He was also known for being England's first slave trader. In 1562 he violently kidnapped 400 Africans in Guinea and then went on to trade them in the West Indies.

Q10) Which English navigator set off to find El Dorado, or the City of Gold, in 1594 and published an account of his voyage called "The Discovery of Guiana".

Francis Drake

Humphrey Gilbert

Walter Ralegh

Henry Hudson

Correct!

Wrong! It was Sir Walter Ralegh.