Q 01/05

The Age of Discovery is also commonly known by what other name?

A) The Age of Sail

B) The Age of Exploration

C) The Age of Reason

D) The Age of Empire

Answer · why

B) The Age of Exploration

It overlapped with the Age of Sail and ran from roughly the early 15th to the 17th century.

Q 02/05

Which two countries led the first wave of overseas colonisation in the 15th and 16th centuries?

A) England and France

B) The Netherlands and England

C) Genoa and Venice

D) Spain and Portugal

Answer · why

D) Spain and Portugal

The English, French and Dutch joined later.

Q 03/05

The magnetic compass used by European navigators was originally invented during which Chinese dynasty?

A) Ming

B) Han

C) Tang

D) Song

Answer · why

B) Han

It was in use for navigation in China by the 11th century and reached Europe by the late 12th or early 13th century.

Q 04/05

The full-rigged ship of the era combined a carvel hull with how many masts?

A) Four

B) Five

C) Six

D) Three

Answer · why

D) Three

The fore and main masts set square sails while the mizzen carried a lateen sail.

Q 05/05

Which Ming admiral led seven treasure-fleet expeditions across the Indian Ocean between 1405 and 1433?

A) Yongle

B) Zheng He

C) Ma Huan

D) Hongxi

Answer · why

B) Zheng He

His largest 'treasure ships' may have measured 121 metres, and the fleets brought back giraffes, zebras and ostriches.