Relevant Titles:
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Age of Exploration and Discovery – Class 11 History MCQs (CBSE Online Test)
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CBSE Class 11 History Online Practice Test: European Expansion Quiz
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NCERT Class 11 History MCQs – Age of Discovery and Exploration Explained
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Important MCQs on Age of Exploration for CBSE Class 11 Students
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Practice Test: European Voyages and Discoveries – CBSE Class 11 History
✅ Introduction
The Age of Exploration and Discovery marked a turning point in world history, connecting continents and transforming global trade, culture, and ideas. This online practice test, based on Theme 8: Confrontation of Cultures (European Expansion) from CBSE Class 11 History, follows the NCERT syllabus strictly to prepare students for board examinations.
Between the 15th and 17th centuries, European explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Bartolomeu Dias embarked on sea voyages that reshaped world geography and commerce. Their discoveries established new maritime routes linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, giving rise to colonization, the slave trade, and the global exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases.
These MCQs on the Age of Exploration are designed to strengthen conceptual understanding and analytical skills. The quiz includes automatic scoring and per-question feedback, enabling students to self-assess their grasp of European expansion, its causes, and worldwide impact — ensuring thorough preparation for the CBSE Class 11 History exam.
✅ Sample MCQs with Explanations
Q1. Who was the first European to reach India by sea?
A) Christopher Columbus B) Ferdinand Magellan C) Vasco da Gama D) Bartolomeu Dias
Answer: C) Vasco da Gama
Explanation: In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (India), establishing a direct sea route between Europe and Asia, revolutionizing trade.
Q2. The main motive behind European exploration was:
A) Curiosity and adventure B) Spreading Christianity, wealth, and glory C) Military expansion D) Scientific research
Answer: B) Spreading Christianity, wealth, and glory
Explanation: The phrase “Gold, Glory, and God” summarizes Europe’s economic, religious, and political motives for exploration.
Q3. Christopher Columbus intended to find a sea route to:
A) Africa B) India C) China and the East Indies D) America
Answer: C) China and the East Indies
Explanation: Columbus set sail westward in 1492 to reach Asia but instead discovered the Americas, marking the start of transatlantic contact.
Q4. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided new lands between:
A) England and France B) Spain and Portugal C) Portugal and the Netherlands D) Spain and England
Answer: B) Spain and Portugal
Explanation: The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed under papal authority to divide global exploration zones between Spain (west) and Portugal (east).
Q5. The Columbian Exchange refers to:
A) Trade among Asian kingdoms B) The exchange of crops, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas C) The Silk Route revival D) Slave trade only
Answer: B) The exchange of crops, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas
Explanation: The Columbian Exchange dramatically transformed global diets, ecology, and populations after Columbus’s voyages.