Spanish Empire Quiz

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Date:

Instructions: Discover the rise and reach of the Spanish Empire — once the most powerful force on Earth, spanning four continents.

1.
Which two Spanish monarchs unified Spain and funded Columbus's voyage in 1492?
A
Alfonso X and Violante
B
Philip II and Mary Tudor
C
Charles V and Isabella of Portugal
D
Ferdinand and Isabella
2.
What was the Spanish Reconquista?
A
A civil war in Spain
B
The Spanish Inquisition
C
The centuries-long Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors
D
The conquest of the Americas
3.
Which was the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, captured in 1492?
A
Granada
B
Toledo
C
Seville
D
Cordoba
4.
What Spanish institution, established in 1478, persecuted heresy and non-Christian religions?
A
The Spanish Inquisition
B
The Armada
C
The Cortes
D
The Reconquista
5.
Which Spanish king sent the 'Invincible Armada' against England in 1588?
A
Philip II
B
Ferdinand II
C
Philip III
D
Charles V
6.
What happened to the Spanish Armada in its attempted invasion of England?
A
It was victorious
B
It successfully landed in England
C
It was redirected to France
D
It was defeated by storms and the English navy
7.
What were the Spanish soldiers who conquered the Aztec and Inca empires called?
A
Musketeers
B
Conquistadors
C
Crusaders
D
Legionnaires
8.
What economic system of forced labor did the Spanish impose on indigenous peoples in the Americas?
A
The feudal system
B
The encomienda system
C
The plantation system
D
The guild system
9.
What precious metal flowed from the Americas to Spain, making it immensely wealthy?
A
Iron
B
Platinum
C
Silver
D
Copper
10.
Which famous mine in modern Bolivia was one of the largest sources of silver in the Spanish Empire?
A
The Taxco mines
B
The Guanajuato mines
C
The Zacatecas mines
D
The Potosi mines
11.
What was Spain's 'Golden Age' (Siglo de Oro) known for?
A
A flourishing of art, literature, and culture
B
Scientific discoveries
C
Military conquests only
D
Democratic reforms
12.
Which Spanish painter of the Golden Age created 'Las Meninas' and served as court painter to Philip IV?
A
Bartolome Murillo
B
Diego Velazquez
C
Francisco Goya
D
El Greco
13.
What was the name of the trading route between Manila and Acapulco that connected Asia to the Americas?
A
The Pacific Express
B
The Manila Galleon trade
C
The Silk Road
D
The Spice Route
14.
Which war resulted in Spain losing Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in 1898?
A
The Spanish-American War
B
The War of Spanish Succession
C
The Napoleonic Wars
D
The Spanish Civil War
15.
What South American leader, known as 'The Liberator,' helped free much of South America from Spanish rule?
A
Miguel Hidalgo
B
Bernardo O'Higgins
C
Simon Bolivar
D
Jose de San Martin

Answer Key

Question 1

D. Ferdinand and Isabella

Question 2

C. The centuries-long Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors

Question 3

A. Granada

Question 4

A. The Spanish Inquisition

Question 5

A. Philip II

Question 6

D. It was defeated by storms and the English navy

Question 7

B. Conquistadors

Question 8

B. The encomienda system

Question 9

C. Silver

Question 10

D. The Potosi mines

Question 11

A. A flourishing of art, literature, and culture

Question 12

B. Diego Velazquez

Question 13

B. The Manila Galleon trade

Question 14

A. The Spanish-American War

Question 15

C. Simon Bolivar

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