Answer:
Europeans first became interested in Africa for
trade route purposes.
• They were looking for ways to avoid the
taxes of the Arab and Ottoman empires in
Southwest Asia.
• Sailing around Africa was the obvious choice,
but it was a long voyage and could not be
completed without “pit stops” along the way.
• Europeans created ports in southern and
eastern Africa so traders could restock
supplies before crossing the Indian Ocean.
Step-by-step explanation: