1. Name:___________________ Date:_______ Period:__
3 Worlds Collide Cloze the Gaps
DIRECTIONS: First, read through the passage with the blanks. Second, CLOZE THE
GAPS using the following people, places, events, and key terms.
a. horse latitudes b. shipbuilding c. Africa & Asia
d. latitude e. Johannes Gutenberg f. winds
g. Renaissance h. Rebirth i. currents
j. Protestant Reformation k. Protestants l. printing press
m. 1300 and 1500 CE n. 14th century o. Hundred Years War
p. Black Death q. Great Famine r. trade
EUROPE
Life in Europe during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries was chaotic. Major changes
in the economy, society, and government took place between 1300 and 1500 CE.
In the early 1300’s, Europe experienced several major catastrophes. Both the
Great Famine (a widespread food shortage) and the Black Death (a deadly disease
also known as the Bubonic Plague) killed millions of people. Thousands more were
killed while fighting in the Hundred Years War between England and France. Despite
these disastrous events, prosperity returned to Europe by the end of the 14th century.
Communities began to flourish creating many cities and trade between merchants
greatly increased.
During this same time period, two cultural movements swept through Europe.
First was the Renaissance (15th-16th c), a widespread cultural revival of classical art,
architecture, learning and literature. The Renaissance—meaning “Rebirth” encouraged
a new respect for the achievements of ancient Greece, ancient values of education,
math and scientific exploration of the Earth.

2. The second cultural movement, known as the Protestant Reformation began
in the 1500’s because many people throughout Europe started questioning the role of
the church in society. Also, they did not like the corrupt practices (i.e.: sale of
indulgences) among the clergy. As a result of their discontent the church divided into
two groups, the Catholics and the Protestants (to protest).
During the Renaissance and Reformation, a German named Johannes
Gutenberg invented the printing press, a machine that created printed pages (mass
production of books). Books no longer had to be hand written which drastically reduced
the cost per book making them available to more people. As a result many Europeans
learned to read which encouraged a curiosity about the world.
European monarchs sought to expand their empires and find new trade routes
to Africa & Asia. Despite the numerous advances in shipbuilding, two natural
forces, wind and currents, controlled ocean travel. Two strong and dangerous
currents (the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic) created near impossible sailing
conditions. Weak winds at 30 to 35 degrees latitude north and south failed to move
sailing vessels. The lack of wind and the geographical location became known as the
Horse Latitudes because horses and other livestock were dumped overboard to
decrease the weight of the ship. Eventually sailors learned how to navigate the Atlantic
Ocean’s powerful currents opening westward travel to many adventurous explorers.
ESPGS
DIRECTIONS: Go back to the reading passage and sort the KEY TERMS, PEOPLE,
PLACES and EVENTS into 4 categories, ESPG. Use the key below to COLOR CODE the
information. Use 4 different colored highlighters or colored pencils
E=O S=O P=O G=O

3. Name:___________________ Date:_______ Period:__
3 Worlds Collide Cloze the Gaps
DIRECTIONS: First, read through the passage with the blanks. Second, use context
clues to CLOZE THE GAPS using the following people, places, events, and key terms.
b. horse latitudes b. shipbuilding c. Africa & Asia
e. latitude e. Johannes Gutenberg f. winds
h. Renaissance h. Rebirth i. currents
k. Protestant Reformation k. Protestants l. printing press
n. 1300 and 1500 CE n. 14th century o. Hundred Years War
q. Black Death q. Great Famine r. trade
EUROPE
Life in Europe during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries was chaotic. Major changes
in the economy, society, and government took place between _________________.
In the early 1300’s, Europe experienced several major catastrophes. Both the
________________(a widespread food shortage) and the __________________
(a deadly disease also known as the Bubonic Plague) killed millions of people.
Thousands more were killed while fighting in the ___________________________
between England and France. Despite these disastrous events, prosperity returned to
Europe by the end of the _____ _______. Communities began to flourish creating
many cities and___________________between merchants greatly increased.
During this same time period, two cultural movements swept through Europe.
First was the _____________________ (15th-16th c), a widespread cultural revival
of classical art, architecture, learning and literature. The Renaissance—meaning
_________________,encouraged a new respect for the achievements of ancient
Greece, ancient values of education, math and scientific exploration of the Earth.
The second cultural movement, known as the ____________________began
in the 1500’s because many people throughout Europe started questioning the role of

4. the church in society. Also, they did not like the corrupt practices (i.e.: sale of
indulgences) among the clergy. As a result of their discontent the church divided into
two groups, the Catholics and the ________________________(to protest).
During the Renaissance and Reformation, a German named
__________________________invented the ___________________, a
machine that created printed pages (mass production of books). Books no longer had to
be hand written which drastically reduced the cost per book making them available to
more people. As a result many Europeans learned to read which encouraged a curiosity
about the world.
European monarchs sought to expand their empires and find new trade routes
to __________________. Despite the numerous advances in _______________.
two natural forces, wind and currents, controlled ocean travel. Two strong and
dangerous ____________(the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic) created near
impossible sailing conditions. Weak ____________at 30 to 35 degrees _________
north and south failed to move sailing vessels. The lack of wind and the geographical
location became known as the __________________________because horses and
other livestock were dumped overboard to decrease the weight of the ship. Eventually
sailors learned how to navigate the Atlantic Ocean’s powerful currents opening
westward travel to many adventurous explorers.
ESPGS
DIRECTIONS: Go back to the reading passage and sort the KEY TERMS, PEOPLE,
PLACES and EVENTS into 4 categories, ESPG. Use the key below to COLOR CODE the
information. Use 4 different colored highlighters or colored pencils
E=O S=O P=O G=O

5. Name:___________________ Date:_______ Period:__
3 Worlds Collide Cloze the Gaps
DIRECTIONS: First, read through the passage with the blanks. Second, use context
clues to CLOZE THE GAPS using the following people, places, events, and key terms.
a. NORTH b. ISLAM c. SAHARA (2xs)
d. DESERT e. SAVANNAS f. RAINFORESTS
g. ENSLAVE h. TRADE ROUTES i. MANSA MUSA
j. GHANA & MALI k. MILITARY l. MEDITERRANNEAN SEA
m. MUSLIMS n. FARMING o. RULER, LAWS, ARMY
p. SLAVE TRADE q. NIGER, VOLTA, & SENEGAL RIVERS
AFRICA
Africa has 3 geographic zones. The desert of the Sahara in the NORTH
(largest desert in the world) has little to no vegetation and only 3 inches of rainfall per
year. The Savannas, both NORTH and & SOUTH of the rainforests, are long, long,
grasslands with abundant wildlife, thorny bushes, and scattered trees similar to our
Great Plains. Near the equator in CENTRAL and WEST Africa, Rainforests are
abundant but losing miles yearly to deforestation. Rainforests are tall forests that grow
in moist, hot climates with abundant wildlife.
The people to the NORTH created trade routes using ports on the
Mediterranean Sea. Northern people traded with Europe. However, the Sahara
limited trade and travel to Central and South Africa. People living in the Sahara were
isolated. Despite these geographic obstacles, the religion of Islam was brought to
these parts by traveling merchants and traders. People who follow Islam are Muslims.
The West African societies centered on the Niger, Volta, and Senegal Rivers.
The soil in the West was rich for farming. The West Africans used the rivers to
transport crops to cities on the Atlantic Ocean.

6. The 2 predominant West African kingdoms were Ghana (700-1100 CE) and
Mali (1200s CE). These kingdoms were large, complex societies. Ghana, located on
the Niger River, controlled trade routes for salt and gold. Mali took over Ghana and
become Africa’s most powerful state. Mansa Musa, Mali’s powerful ruler was a devout
Muslim and built mosques and universities.
Unlike Ghana and Mali, other kingdoms were small (few miles wide). Each had a
ruler, laws, and army. By the late 14th c., Kingdoms fought one another for crops,
land, trade goods, and humans. African kings would enslave rather than kill their
enemies. Slavery benefited African kings because they gained strong men, destroyed
their enemy's military strength, and slaves were used as commodities (goods) to be
traded for crops, weapons, and gold. Europeans arrived in the 1480s establishing the
profitable slave trade.
ESPGS
DIRECTIONS: Go back to the reading passage and sort the KEY TERMS, PEOPLE,
PLACES and EVENTS into 4 categories, ESPG. Use the key below to COLOR CODE the
information. Use 4 different colored highlighters or colored pencils
E=O S=O P=O G=O

7. Name:___________________ Date:_______ Period:__
3 Worlds Collide Cloze the Gaps
DIRECTIONS: First, read through the passage with the blanks. Second, use context
clues to CLOZE THE GAPS using the following people, places, events, and key terms.
a. NORTH b. ISLAM c. SAHARA (2xs)
d. DESERT e. SAVANNAS f. RAINFORESTS
g. ENSLAVE h. TRADE ROUTES i. MANSA MUSA
j. GHANA & MALI k. MILITARY l. MEDITERRANNEAN SEA
m. MUSLIMS n. FARMING o. RULER, LAWS, ARMY
p. SLAVE TRADE q. NIGER, VOLTA, & SENEGAL RIVERS
AFRICA
Africa has 3 geographic zones. The _____________________ of the
________________ in the NORTH (largest desert in the world) has little to no
vegetation and only 3 inches of rainfall per year. The ______________ both NORTH
and SOUTH of the rainforests, are long, long, grasslands with abundant wildlife, thorny
bushes, and scattered trees similar to our Great Plains. Near the equator in CENTRAL
and WEST Africa, _____________________ are abundant but losing miles yearly to
deforestation. Rainforests are tall forests that grow in moist, hot climates with
abundant wildlife.
The people to the NORTH created __________ ________ using ports on the
___________________ ________. Northern people traded with Europe.
However, the _________________________ limited trade and travel to Central
and South Africa. People living in the Sahara were isolated. Despite these geographic
obstacles, the religion of ________________________ was brought to these parts
by traveling merchants and traders. People who follow Islam are
_________________.

8. The West African societies centered on the ______________, __________,
and ________________ ________________. The soil in the WEST was rich for
_______________________. The West Africans used the rivers to transport crops to
cities on the Atlantic Ocean.
The 2 predominant West African kingdoms were GHANA (700-1100 CE) &
__________________ (1200s CE). These kingdoms were large, complex societies.
Ghana, located on the Niger River, controlled trade routes for salt and gold. Mali took
over Ghana and become Africa’s most powerful state.
_______________________, Mali’s powerful ruler was a devout Muslim and built
mosques and universities.
Unlike Ghana and Mali, other kingdoms were small (few miles wide). Each had a
________, _________, & ____________. By the late 14th c., Kingdoms fought
one another for crops, land, trade goods, and humans. African kings would
_______________________rather than kill their enemies.
_____________________ benefited African kings because they gained strong men,
destroyed their enemy's ___________________strength, and slaves were used as
commodities (goods) to be traded for crops, weapons, and gold. Europeans arrived in
the 1480s establishing the profitable ______________________.
ESPGS
DIRECTIONS: Go back to the reading passage and sort the KEY TERMS, PEOPLE,
PLACES and EVENTS into 4 categories, ESPG. Use the key below to COLOR CODE the
information. Use 4 different colored highlighters or colored pencils
E=O S=O P=O G=O

9. QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW
1. Make a connection: What other religions have tried to spread their religion and
provide 2 results.
2. What are 2 examples of modern day slavery?
3. What modern day technology and/or medical science may have ended the
bubonic plaque and/or decreased the # of victims?
4. How would people react if there was a food shortage in America?
5. During the Hundred Years War (1336-1443), there were hundreds of battles
mingled with uneasy peace, France eventually expelled England from Aquitane
but England had won many battles.
• How does war affect society?
• How has the war in Iraq and Afghanistan affected American society, Iraqi
society, Afghan society?
6. During the Protestant Reformation, people questioned corrupt practices of the
church. Do people question religious organizations today? Explain.
7. The printing press enabled the common people to learn to read and they
developed a curiosity about the world. Make a connection: Name a book that
made you curious about your world. Explain.
Geography Americas Africa Europe

10. Economic: how did Farming, hunting Farming, hunting, Farming, trade
people make a trade
living
Society Sedentary, semi, Semi-sedentary and Sedentary
and non-sedentary sedentary
Religion
Achievements
Political Olmec, Maya, Inca, Mali, Ghana, Kongo, English, French,
Who was in charge? Aztec, Iroquois Ndongo Italians, Spanish
Culture:
Religion: Rooted in nature Islam, Christianity Christianity
and Native African
Religion
Cities, temples, Art, Islamic Univ
Achievements irrigation, canals, (Mansa Musa), Renaissance,
calendar trade and travel Reformation,
printing press
Make a Prediction: What will happen next (16th century) for either European, African,
or Native American society. Respond in writing or illustration on the back of this sheet.