The Ideal Quiz On Ch. Europeans Set Sail

Explanation
The Vikings were indeed the first Europeans to make contact with North America. Around the year 1000, the Norse explorer Leif Erikson led an expedition to what is now Newfoundland, Canada. This settlement, known as L'Anse aux Meadows, provides archaeological evidence of their presence. This discovery predates Christopher Columbus's famous voyage in 1492, making the Vikings the first known Europeans to reach North America.

Explanation
The Vikings were indeed skilled sailors who developed a new style of ship known as the longship. These longships were designed to be fast and maneuverable, allowing the Vikings to navigate both open seas and shallow rivers. They were equipped with oars and sails, which gave them the ability to travel long distances and explore new lands. The longship played a crucial role in the Vikings' success as traders, raiders, and explorers during the Viking Age.

Explanation
Prince Henry the Navigator was not an explorer who set out on many voyages himself. Instead, he was a patron of exploration and sponsored numerous voyages, but he did not personally embark on these expeditions. His main contribution was promoting and supporting Portuguese exploration along the coast of Africa, which eventually led to the discovery of new trade routes and the expansion of Portuguese influence.

Explanation
A caravel is not a device, but rather a type of ship used during the Age of Exploration. It was a small, highly maneuverable vessel that allowed navigators to explore new territories and trade routes. While navigators did indeed use the stars to determine their ship's location, a caravel itself was not a device for this purpose. Therefore, the statement is false.

Explanation
During the era of the Atlantic slave trade, the Portuguese were one of the major European powers involved in the trade. They sent a significant number of enslaved Africans to Europe and to their colonies in the Atlantic islands, such as Madeira, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe. These enslaved Africans were subjected to harsh and brutal living conditions, enduring forced labor, physical abuse, and cultural displacement. The Portuguese played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade, contributing to the suffering and exploitation of countless Africans.