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Voyages of Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Magellan – Class 11 History MCQs (CBSE Online Practice Test)
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Practice Test: Age of Discovery – Voyages of Columbus, Vasco da Gama & Magellan
✅ Introduction
The Voyages of Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Magellan mark one of the most transformative eras in world history — the Age of Exploration and Discovery. This topic, part of Theme 8: Confrontation of Cultures (European Expansion) in CBSE Class 11 History, explores how these explorers connected continents, transformed trade, and reshaped global interactions.
In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas in 1492, Vasco da Gama reached India by sea in 1498, and Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition achieved the first circumnavigation of the Earth in 1522. Their voyages expanded Europe’s influence, established maritime trade routes, and led to both cultural exchange and colonization.
This online MCQ practice test has been designed strictly according to the NCERT syllabus, making it ideal for CBSE Class 11 board exam preparation. The quiz focuses on explorers, trade routes, motivations, and impacts, with automatic scoring and detailed feedback to help students assess their conceptual understanding effectively.
✅ Sample MCQs with Explanations
Q1. Who discovered the sea route to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope?
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, establishing a direct sea link between Europe and Asia through the Cape of Good Hope.
Q2. Christopher Columbus set sail westward in 1492 to find:
A) A new route to India and Asia B) The Pacific Ocean C) America D) Africa
Answer: A) A new route to India and Asia
Explanation: Columbus, sponsored by Spain, intended to reach Asia by sailing west but instead discovered the Caribbean islands.
Q3. Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition is significant because it:
A) Reached India B) Conquered America C) Completed the first circumnavigation of the globe D) Founded colonies in Africa
Answer: C) Completed the first circumnavigation of the globe
Explanation: Though Magellan died in the Philippines, his fleet, led by Juan Sebastián Elcano, completed the first voyage around the world in 1522.
Q4. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided newly discovered lands between:
A) England and France B) Spain and Portugal C) Portugal and the Dutch D) Spain and England
Answer: B) Spain and Portugal
Explanation: The treaty, sanctioned by the Pope, divided global exploration zones between Spain (west) and Portugal (east).
Q5. What was the main motive behind European voyages of discovery?
A) Political alliances B) Expansion of agriculture C) Trade, wealth, and religion D) Migration to Asia
Answer: C) Trade, wealth, and religion
Explanation: European nations sought new trade routes to acquire spices, gold, and spread Christianity — summarized by the phrase “Gold, Glory, and God.”