Exploration & Revolution Quiz — printable worksheet

In what year did this happen: Discovery of the Rosetta Stone?

A — 1799

Discovery of the Rosetta Stone — 1799. The Rosetta Stone's three scripts (hieroglyphic, Demotic, Greek) unlocked 1,400 years of lost Egyptian history when Champollion cracked the code in 1822.

Which of these events happened first?

B — Plymouth Colony Settlement

Plymouth Colony Settlement came first, in 1627. Only 53 of 102 Mayflower passengers survived the first winter—the colony's survival depended on Squanto teaching them to fertilize corn with fish.

In what year did this happen: Washington Crossing the Delaware?

D — 1776

Washington Crossing the Delaware — 1776. Washington crossed in a nor'easter storm on Christmas night 1776, surprising Hessian forces at Trenton when the Continental Army was near collapse.

Which of these events happened first?

C — Great Fire of London at Pudding Lane

Great Fire of London at Pudding Lane came first, in 1666. The Great Fire burned for four days and destroyed 87 churches including Old St. Paul's—but only six verified deaths were recorded.

In what year did this happen: Cortés Arrives in Tenochtitlan?

C — 1519

Cortés Arrives in Tenochtitlan — 1519. Tenochtitlan had 200,000-400,000 residents on an island with canals—conquistadors compared it to Venice before destroying it to build Mexico City.

Which of these events happened first?

C — Mayflower Landing at Plymouth Rock

Mayflower Landing at Plymouth Rock came first, in 1620. The Pilgrims aimed for the Hudson River but storms forced them to Cape Cod—Plymouth Rock wasn't identified as the landing site until 121 years later.

In what year did this happen: Montgolfier Brothers' First Animal Flight at Versailles?

A — 1783

Montgolfier Brothers' First Animal Flight at Versailles — 1783. The world's first aerial passengers were a sheep (named 'climb-to-the-sky'), duck, and rooster—they flew 8 minutes and landed safely 2 miles away.

Which of these events happened first?

A — Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London came first, in 1600. The Globe burned down during a 1613 performance of Henry VIII when a theatrical cannon misfired and ignited the thatched roof.

In what year did this happen: Boston Tea Party?

B — 1773

Boston Tea Party — 1773. Colonists destroyed 342 chests of tea worth $1.7 million today—protesting the British East India Company's monopoly, not high taxes.

Which of these events happened first?

A — Michelangelo Painting the Sistine Chapel Ceiling

Michelangelo Painting the Sistine Chapel Ceiling came first, in 1510. Michelangelo didn't paint lying on his back—he stood on scaffolding painting overhead, causing severe neck and back pain for four years.