Famous Explorers
1 / 15Test your knowledge of history's greatest explorers!
15 quick questionsNo sign-upFree to playTap an answer below to begin ↓
Who led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe?
About Famous Explorers
Famous Explorers is a free general knowledge quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions. Test your knowledge of history's greatest explorers! A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. Who led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe?
Answer: Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan organized the Spanish expedition that departed in 1519. Although Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines in 1521, his crew completed the circumnavigation in 1522 under Juan Sebastián Elcano.
2. Which explorer is credited with 'discovering' America in 1492?
Answer: Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, reached the Caribbean islands in 1492. Though Vikings had reached North America centuries earlier, Columbus's voyages led to lasting European contact with the Americas.
3. Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?
Answer: Roald Amundsen
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating Robert Falcon Scott's British expedition by about five weeks.
4. Which Portuguese explorer was the first European to reach India by sea?
Answer: Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India, in 1498 after sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, establishing a sea route from Europe to Asia.
5. Lewis and Clark led an expedition to explore which part of the world?
Answer: Western North America
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery expedition (1804-1806) across the western portion of the United States, from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back.
Things you'll learn along the way
- Sir Richard Francis Burton, along with John Hanning Speke, led expeditions in the 1850s to find the source of the Nile. Speke identified Lake Victoria as the source, though Burton disagreed.
- New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, as part of a British expedition led by Colonel John Hunt.
- Ferdinand Magellan named the ocean 'Mar Pacifico' (Peaceful Sea) in 1520 because of the calm waters he encountered after navigating the stormy strait at the tip of South America.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in Famous Explorers?
Famous Explorers has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Famous Explorers free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Famous Explorers — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
How long does Famous Explorers take?
Most players finish Famous Explorers in about 7 minutes. You can pause between questions, replay it as often as you like, and there is no penalty for taking your time — answers are explained after you submit them.
What's a good follow-up after Famous Explorers?
If you enjoyed this general knowledge quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
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