People

Question 1

Christopher Columbus

Answer 1

1451-1506: Proposed sailing to Asia by a western route. Fernando and Isabel of Spain sponsored his expedition. Ended up in Central America, believing it was Asia. News of his voyage let to colonial expansion to the new world.

Question 2

Vasco da Gama

Answer 2

Sailed around the bottom of Africa to India for trade. His expedition opened the door for trade between Europe and Asia.

Question 3

Afonso D’Alboquerque

Answer 3

Commander of Portuguese forces in Indian Ocean (16th century). Sought to control Indian Ocean trade by forcing merchants to buy passes.

Question 4

James Cook

Answer 4

1728-1779: One of the most important pacific explorers. Charted Eastern Australia and New Zealand, added new islands to European maps, and probed the Arctic Ocean and tropics. He helped geographers have accurate understandings of the globe.

Question 5

Martin Luther

Answer 5

Published the Ninety-Five Theses and kickstarted the Protestant Reformation. He believed that salvation was between God and the individual, and that the Church had nothing to do with it.

Question 6

John Calvin

Answer 6

He believed in predestination and in God’s “Elect” people. People should dress simply, work hard, and lead pure lives. “City upon a hill” mentality, where Calvinist communities are meant to be examples of righteousness to all other communities.

Question 7

St. Ignatius Loyola

Answer 7

Founder of Society of Jesus. Wanted to extend bounds of Roman Church. Rigorous education made these missionaries extremely effective.

Question 8

Charles V

Answer 8

Inherited authority of Austria, Burgundy, Spain, Germany, Bohemia, Switzerland, and parts of Northern India. He was unable to establish his empire as a supreme political authority in Europe because of French fear of Holy Roman Empire. The Turks and the Germans worked together with the French to resist. He abdicated his throne later because of this difficulty.

Question 9

Henry VIII

Answer 9

Broke off from the Catholic church and created the Church of England. Hed did this because the pope wouldn’t let him divorce his wife who hadn’t given him the birth of a son.

Question 10

Louis XIV

Answer 10

“Sun king”. Built the palace at Versailles. Established new industries and built roads/canals. Waged a series of wars designed to enlarge French boundaries.

Question 11

Peter the Great

Answer 11

He wanted to expand Russian borders. He reformed the army with better pay and extensive training and modern weapons. He ordered Russians to dress more western European. He built a seaport at St. Petersburg.

Question 12

Catherine the Great

Answer 12

She wanted to make Russia a great power. At first she had a strong interest in social reform, but then when it inspired challenges to her rule she abandoned that cause. Her primary concern is the preservation of aristocratic rule. She worked to improve government efficiency and economic development.

Question 13

Oliver Cromwell

Answer 13

Served as an English general and helped overthrow the royalty in England. Served as Lord Protector until his death.

Question 14

Galileo Galilei

Answer 14

Anticipated the law of inertia; showed how objects behave in freefall due to gravity. Discovered also that there were spots on the sun, showing that the heavens weren’t perfect.

Question 15

Nicolas Copernicus

Answer 15

Challenged existing theories before him with his discovery that the sun was the sun was the center of the universe and not the earth.

Question 16

Isaac Newton

Answer 16

Discovered basic laws of physics regarding to motion and gravity. These laws would eventually bear his name. Father of modern science. He is from England.

Question 17

Hernan Cortes

Answer 17

Landed in Mexico to search for Gold. Eventually conquered the Aztec nation in Mexico in 1521 by placing them under siege. Disease along with superior weaponry helped them to win. He is from Spain.

Question 18

Francisco Pizarro

Answer 18

1530 expedition to Inca Empire. Toppled the Inca Empire in Peru and founded Lima

Question 19

Virgin of Guadalupe

Answer 19

She became a symbol for the Mestizos as they embraced Roman Catholicism. Supposedly she appeared to Juan Diego and a shrine is built for her there.

Question 20

King Afonso I (Nzinga Mbemba)

Answer 20

King of the Congo Empire from 1509-1543. He converted to Christianity. Wrote many letters to the King of Portugal complaining about the Portuguese traders in his country.

Question 21

Queen Nzinga

Answer 21

Led her armies in fighting off the Portuguese

Question 22

Bartolome de las Casas

Answer 22

Catholic missionary who traveled to New World and was disgusted by slavery. He was an advocate for indigenous peoples’ rights and for the abolition of slavery.

Question 23

Kangxi Emperor

Answer 23

(1661-1722) Manchu emperor who helped the Manchu’s consolidate their rule on China. He advocated and helped implement Confucianism. He expanded the Qing empire into Mongolia and Central China, and Tibet.

Question 24

Qianglong Emperor

Answer 24

(1661-1722) Manchu emperor who helped the Manchu’s consolidate their rule on China. He advocated and helped implement Confucianism. He expanded the Qing empire into Mongolia and Central China, and Tibet.

Question 25

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Answer 25

(reigned 1600-1616) Helped to bring the unification of Japan. Established military gov called Bakufu (“tent government”) and ruled as a Shogun. Moved capital from Kyoto to Edo (modern Tokyo).

Question 26

Francis Xavier

Answer 26

1549 - Jesuit missionary who traveled to Japan. Experienced success and Jesuit missionaries by 1615 had converted 300,000 Japanese to Christianity.

Question 27

Suleiman the Magnificent

Answer 27

Ottoman imperialism climaxed under his reign (1520-1566). He vigorously promoted Ottoman expansion in Asia and in Europe. Under his power the Ottomans became a major naval power.

Question 28

Akbar

Answer 28

Emperor of the Islamic Mughal Empire. He did not tolerate challenges to his rule. He pursued a policy of religious toleration that he hoped would reduce tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities in India. Akbar promoted a synchronized religion.

Question 29

Aurangzeb

Answer 29

The Mughal empire reached its greatest extent under him. He waged a campaign to push Mughal authority deeper into India. He greatly expanded Mughal boundaries A devout Muslim, he destroyed many Hindu temples, imposed a tax on Hindus.