Q1. Which event in 1453 significantly affected European trade with Asia and contributed to the search for new sea routes?
- The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire
- The discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus
- The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas
- The formation of the Dutch East India Company
Correct Option: 1. The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire.
Explanation: The fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Empire had a significant impact on European trade with Asia. The Ottomans gained control of key overland trade routes, which forced European nations, especially Spain and Portugal, to search for new maritime routes to bypass Ottoman-controlled lands and reach Asia directly.
Q2. What was the role of the Mughal Empire in the Portuguese decline in India?
- The Mughals aided the Portuguese in their trade
- The Portuguese were driven out of Bengal by the Mughals in 1631
- The Mughals provided military support to the Portuguese
- The Mughal Empire prevented other European powers from entering India
Correct Option: 2. The Portuguese were driven out of Bengal by the Mughals in 1631.
Explanation: The Mughal Empire played a role in the decline of Portuguese power in India. In 1631, the Portuguese were driven out of their settlement at Hugli in Bengal by the Mughal Empire, weakening their position in India. Additionally, Portuguese influence in Gujarat diminished due to increasing competition from other European powers.
Q3. Which of the following was a significant reason why the Europeans needed to find new sources of gold during 15th and 16th century?
- Gold was essential for trade with African kingdoms
- There was a shortage of gold in Europe
- Gold was needed to fund the Industrial Revolution
- Gold was used to purchase spices directly from India
Correct Option: 3. There was a shortage of gold in Europe.
Explanation: European nations, especially in the 15th and 16th centuries, were facing a severe shortage of gold, which was crucial for trade and economic growth. The desire to acquire gold, especially from the Americas and Asia, became one of the key drivers of European exploration and imperialism during this period.
Q4. How did the Dutch successfully challenge Portuguese dominance in Asia?
- By focusing on the Indian subcontinent rather than Southeast Asia
- By forming alliances with the Mughal Empire
- By defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588
- By using superior ships, navigation skills, and business organization
Correct Option: 4. By using superior ships, navigation skills, and business organization.
Explanation: The Dutch were able to challenge Portuguese dominance in Asia by using advanced shipbuilding techniques, improved navigation, and highly efficient business methods. The Dutch East India Company, founded in 1602, was central to their success in controlling key parts of the spice trade in Southeast Asia and even displacing the Portuguese in several regions.
Q5. What was the primary economic motivation behind the European involvement in the transatlantic slave trade?
- To use slaves for agricultural work in the New World colonies
- To exchange slaves for luxury goods in Africa
- To introduce African slaves as a workforce for European manufacturing
- To acquire slaves for military service in Europe
Correct Option: 1. To use slaves for agricultural work in the New World colonies.
Explanation: The transatlantic slave trade was primarily driven by the need for cheap labor to work on the plantations in the Americas. European merchants transported slaves from Africa to the New World, where they were used to cultivate crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton. The profits from these plantations were critical to the economic growth of European powers and helped fund further industrialization.