Early Explorers

Which explorer was the first European to reach the Americas in 1492?

• John Cabot

• Christopher Columbus

• Jacques Cartier

• Hernando de Soto

Who explored and claimed land in present-day Canada for France?

• Marco Polo

• Christopher Columbus

• Jacques Cartier

• Juan Ponce de León

Which explorer sailed for England and reached the coast of North America in 1497?

• Henry Hudson

• John Cabot

• Hernando de Soto

• Marco Polo

Who is known for his journey along the Silk Road, which brought European awareness of Asian cultures?

• Christopher Columbus

• Marco Polo

• Hernando de Soto

• Juan Ponce de León

Which explorer searched for the mythical Fountain of Youth in Florida?

• John Cabot

• Henry Hudson

• Juan Ponce de León

• Jacques Cartier

Who was the Spanish explorer that led an expedition through the southeastern United States, including parts of present-day Georgia and Mississippi?

• Hernando de Soto

• Jacques Cartier

• Marco Polo

• John Cabot

Henry Hudson is famous for exploring which body of water that now bears his name?

• Mississippi River

• Pacific Ocean

• Hudson River

• Amazon River

Which explorer's voyages led to the discovery of lands in present-day Brazil and Argentina?

• John Cabot

• Jacques Cartier

• Hernando de Soto

• Christopher Columbus

What was Marco Polo primarily known for?

• Discovering new trade routes to India

• Writing a book about his travels in Asia

• Claiming lands in North America

• Searching for gold in Central America

Which explorer made several attempts to find a northwest passage to Asia but ended up exploring large parts of Canada instead?

• Henry Hudson

• Juan Ponce de León

• Jacques Cartier

• Hernando de Soto