Chapter 17: The Maritime Revolution

Christopher Columbus's first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean took place in 1492 CE. This is a well-known historical fact that is widely documented. Columbus set sail from Spain on August 3, 1492, with three ships: the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña. After a long and arduous journey, he arrived in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

The Vikings were known for their extensive exploration during the Viking Age. They ventured to various locations, including Greenland, Iceland, and Newfoundland. These journeys were made possible by their advanced shipbuilding techniques and navigational skills. The Vikings' exploration of these places is well-documented through archaeological evidence and historical accounts, making the statement true.

Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztecs. The Aztecs were an indigenous group of Amerindians who inhabited the region that is now present-day Mexico. Cortes led a Spanish expedition in the early 16th century and successfully defeated the Aztec Empire, ultimately leading to the colonization of Mexico by the Spanish.

During the time of trade between Africans and the Portuguese, corn was not one of the commodities exchanged. Corn, also known as maize, is native to the Americas and was not present in Africa before the arrival of Europeans. Therefore, it was not part of the trade between Africans and the Portuguese. Instead, the Africans traded commodities such as gold, slaves, and ivory with the Portuguese.

Prince Henry the Navigator, also known as Infante Dom Henrique, was a Portuguese prince who played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery. He was born in Portugal and was a prominent figure in promoting and funding maritime exploration. His efforts led to the establishment of a navigation school and the development of new ships and navigational instruments. Therefore, the correct answer is Portugal.

The statement is false because conquistadors did not come from Portugal. Conquistadors were actually soldiers and explorers from Spain who were involved in the exploration and colonization of the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries. Portugal, on the other hand, had its own explorers and colonizers such as Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, but they were not referred to as conquistadors.

Francisco Pizarro did not require a huge fleet to defeat the Incans. In fact, he only had a small force of about 180 men when he successfully conquered the Incan Empire. Pizarro's military strategy, along with the help of internal conflicts within the Incan Empire, allowed him to defeat the much larger Incan army. Therefore, the statement that Pizarro required a huge fleet is false.

Ferdinand Magellan did not make it all the way around the world because he died before completing the journey. Although he led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, Magellan was killed in the Philippines in 1521, and it was his crew who ultimately completed the voyage without him. Therefore, the statement "Ferdinand Magellan did not make it all the way around the world" is true.

Hernan Cortes did not face great difficulties to get into the Aztec capital. In fact, he was able to enter the capital, Tenochtitlan, relatively easily due to his alliances with other indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs. These alliances provided Cortes with the necessary support and assistance to navigate through the region and ultimately conquer the capital.

European explorers were trying to reach China before the discovery of the Americas. This is because China was known for its wealth, resources, and exotic goods, such as spices and silk. European countries, such as Portugal and Spain, were motivated to find new trade routes to China in order to bypass the expensive and dangerous Silk Road. The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus was an unintended consequence of this search for a new route to China.