🏛️ World History Trivia
Quiz Set 3 — Explorers
Answer all 10 questions. Click an option to see if you got it right!
Question 1 of 10
Who first sailed around the world?
Magellan began the voyage but died in the Philippines; Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the circumnavigation in 1522.
Question 2 of 10
What continent did Christopher Columbus land on in 1492?
Columbus landed in the Bahamas (Caribbean) on October 12, 1492, thinking he had reached Asia.
Question 3 of 10
Who first reached the South Pole?
Roald Amundsen led the first expedition to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911.
Question 4 of 10
What European first rounded the southern tip of Africa?
Bartolomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening the sea route to Asia.
Question 5 of 10
Who first mapped the coast of Australia?
James Cook mapped Australia's eastern coast in 1770 aboard HMB Endeavour.
Question 6 of 10
What explorer first reached India by sea from Europe?
Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India, in 1498, completing the first direct sea route from Europe.
Question 7 of 10
Who was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean?
Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed Panama and first sighted the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
Question 8 of 10
What did Lewis and Clark explore?
Lewis and Clark (1804-06) explored the vast territory of the Louisiana Purchase to the Pacific Coast.
Question 9 of 10
Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
Robert Peary (contested) claimed to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909.
Question 10 of 10
What explorer conquered the Aztec Empire?
Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire (1519-1521) with a small Spanish force and native allies.