Which European explorer is known for his expedition into the Aztec Empire?

Hernán Cortés is known for his expedition into the Aztec Empire, which took place in the early 16th century. In 1519, he led an expedition that ultimately resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spain’s colonial presence in Mexico. Cortés and his men leveraged strategic alliances with other indigenous groups that were adversarial to the Aztecs, along with superior military technology, to conquer the empire. This expedition was pivotal in Spanish colonization efforts and had lasting impacts on the indigenous populations and cultures in the Americas.

The other explorers listed had different focuses; Ferdinand Magellan is recognized for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, while Christopher Columbus is credited with opening the Americas to European exploration, although he never sailed into the Aztec Empire specifically. Vasco da Gama is known for his voyages that established a sea route to India, which is separate from the events surrounding the Aztecs. Each of these figures contributed significantly to exploration during the Age of Discovery, but Cortés is the key figure associated directly with the Aztecs.