Who were the first Europeans known to explore North America?

The Vikings were the first Europeans known to explore North America, with Norse expeditions led by figures such as Leif Erikson around the year 1000 AD. They are well-documented as having reached areas like Newfoundland, where they established a settlement known as L'Anse aux Meadows, which provides evidence of their presence on the continent. This Norse exploration predates other European engagement with North America by several centuries, marking the Vikings as pioneers in European exploration of the region.

In contrast, while the Spanish Conquistadors, French Settlers, and Portuguese Explorers all played significant roles in the later exploration and colonization of the Americas, they came onto the scene after the Viking expeditions. Thus, their contributions occurred at a different time in history, making the Vikings the earliest known European explorers of North America.