2. Where did Hernán Cortés lead expeditions before his famous journey to the Yucatán Peninsula?

a. Caribbean islands

b. South America

c. North America

d. Africa

a. Caribbean islands

Hernán Cortés led expeditions to the Caribbean islands before his famous journey to the Yucatán Peninsula. Therefore, the correct answer is (a) Caribbean islands.

To determine where Hernán Cortés led expeditions before his famous journey to the Yucatán Peninsula, we can look at historical records and accounts of his early explorations.

The correct answer is a. Caribbean islands.

Explanation:
Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, led expeditions to the Caribbean islands before his famous journey to the Yucatán Peninsula. Prior to his expedition to the Yucatán, Cortés participated in several expeditions and conquests in the Caribbean. In 1511, he accompanied Diego Velázquez on an expedition to conquer the island of Cuba. Later, Cortés explored and settled other Caribbean islands, like Hispaniola (today's Dominican Republic and Haiti). So, option a, Caribbean islands, is the correct answer.

To find this information, you can refer to historical accounts, biographies, or books that cover the life and expeditions of Hernán Cortés. These sources typically provide details about Cortés' early explorations and conquests in the Caribbean before his journey to the Yucatán Peninsula.