Q 01/05

In which city-state was Christopher Columbus born?

A) Pisa

B) Venice

C) Florence

D) Genoa

Answer · why

D) Genoa

The scholarly consensus puts his birth in the Republic of Genoa between late August and October 1451; the family later moved along the coast to Savona...

Q 02/05

How many transatlantic voyages to the Americas did Columbus complete?

A) Two

B) Three

C) Four

D) Five

Answer · why

C) Four

All four were sponsored by the Crown of Castile, between 1492 and 1504.

Q 03/05

Which of the three ships on the first voyage was the largest, a carrack under Columbus's direct command?

A) The Pinta

B) The Niña

C) The Santa María

D) La Gorda

Answer · why

C) The Santa María

The Santa María, a roughly 100-ton nao (carrack), was the flagship; its owner Juan de la Cosa sailed aboard as master and later drew one of the earlie...

Q 04/05

From which Spanish port did the first voyage depart on 3 August 1492?

A) Cádiz

B) Sanlúcar de Barrameda

C) Seville

D) Palos de la Frontera

Answer · why

D) Palos de la Frontera

Palos de la Frontera, on the Río Tinto in Huelva, was obliged by royal order to supply two of the ships; the fleet sailed down the river to the Atlant...

Q 05/05

On what date in 1492 did Columbus's fleet first make landfall in the Americas?

A) 6 September

B) 3 August

C) 25 December

D) 12 October

Answer · why

D) 12 October

Land was sighted at about 2 a.m. on 12 October 1492, five weeks after the fleet left the Canaries; the anniversary became Columbus Day in the United S...