Texes Social Studies Content Practice Exam

European invaders possessed all of the following advantages over the Native groups they encountered in the New World except?

1. Access to horses

2. Access to steel weapons and armor

3. Experience with domesticated animals

4. Access to firearms

The correct answer is: Experience with domesticated animals

The correct answer is rooted in the context of the interactions between European invaders and Native groups in the New World. While Europeans did have experience with domesticated animals, this advantage is not the best option to highlight compared to the other points of comparison. European invaders arrived in the Americas with horses, which were not utilized by most Native groups at the time. The introduction of horses had a significant impact on the mobility and warfare capabilities of these European forces, providing them with a tactical advantage. Similarly, the use of steel weapons and armor represented a significant technological superiority. Steel weaponry was far more effective than the weaponry commonly used by Native groups, which often relied on materials like stone and wood. The protective benefits of steel armor further compounded their military edge. Access to firearms was another crucial advantage. Early European firearms, despite being relatively primitive, provided a level of firepower that Native groups were generally unprepared to counter, leading to devastating effects in battles. Thus, while European settlers did have some experience with domesticated animals, this was not as pivotal in warfare and exploration compared to the other options such as horses, steel weaponry, and firearms. This overall context helps clarify why experience with domesticated animals is the exception in the advantages