Which explorer was the first to lead Europeans into South Carolina?
Christopher Columbus
O Giovanni da Verrazano
Francisco Gordillo
Jean Ribault
The first explorer to lead Europeans into South Carolina was Jean Ribault. To determine the correct answer, we can go through each option and eliminate the ones that are incorrect.
- Christopher Columbus: While Columbus is famous for his voyages across the Atlantic, he did not explore South Carolina specifically.
- Giovanni da Verrazano: Verrazano was an Italian explorer who sailed the East Coast of North America in 1524. Although he did explore parts of present-day North Carolina, there is no evidence that he ventured into South Carolina.
- Francisco Gordillo: Francisco Gordillo was a Spanish explorer who sailed along the eastern coast of North America in 1521. While he may have come close to South Carolina, there is no concrete evidence that he led Europeans into the area.
- Jean Ribault: Jean Ribault, a French explorer, was the first to lead Europeans into South Carolina. In 1562, he established a colony called Charlesfort near present-day Parris Island.
Based on this information, we can conclude that the correct answer is Jean Ribault.