1. lived in China for twenty years

Dias

2. searched for the Fountain of Youth

Cartier

3. first to explore the St. Lawrence River

De Soto

4. began the first permanent French settlement

Champlain

5. explored the Mississippi with Marquette

Ponce de Leon

6. followed the Mississippi to the Gulf

Marco Polo

7. first to round the Cape of Good Hope

La Salle

8. discovered the Mississippi River

Joliet

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Explanation:

1 lived in China for twenty years

Dias

2. searched for the Fountain of Youth

Cartier

3. first to explore the St. Lawrence River

De Soto

4. began the first permanent French settlement

Champlain

5. explored the Mississippi with Marquette

Ponce de Leon

6. followed the Mississippi to the Gulf

Marco Polo

7. first to round the Cape of Good Hope

La Salle

8. discovered the Mississippi River

Joliet

1. lived in China for twenty years--Marco Polo

2. searched for the Fountain of Youth--Ponce de Leon

3. first to explore the St. Lawrence River--Cartier

4. began the first permanent French settlement--Champlain

5. explored the Mississippi with Marquette--Joliet

6. followed the Mississippi to the Gulf--La Salle

7. first to round the Cape of Good Hope - -Dias

8. discovered the Mississippi River--De Soto

These questions highlight the period of exploration occurring in the 15th-16th century. Marco Polo was the inspiration for the period because he introduced Asian productions to Europeans. Exploration had the goal of finding a direct route to Asia. Exploration eventually led Europeans to the Americas where explorers would take the risk to discover the geography and resources of the new land.