Final answer:
The combination that does not go together is d) British and gold mining, as the British were not primarily known for this activity in the context of early European exploration and colonization of the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question of which two things do NOT go together is d) British and gold mining. While Hernán Cortés is indeed associated with the fall of the Aztec Empire Francisco Pizarro with the conquest of the Inca Empire, and the French with the fur trade in North America, the British were not primarily known for gold mining in the context of the early interactions between Europeans and the Americas.
Instead, the British were more focused on establishing colonies and trade networks, particularly in North America and the Caribbean, and did not have the same level of involvement in gold mining as the Spanish did in South America or Central America. It's important to acknowledge that the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs and Incas involved numerous factors, including alliances with local groups, the spread of diseases like smallpox, and the sophisticated military strategies of the conquistadors.