Why did european contact with africa increase in the 1800s? a. cecil rhodes and leopold ii traveled into the interior, showing other european leaders that such journeys were advantageous. b. explorers and missionaries showed that travel into the interior was possible, due to medical advances and steamships. c. europeans and asians took a new interest in the slave trade, making increased contact valuable and necessary. d. an african elite welcomed westerners, eager to learn the culture and religion of the neighbors they admired.

The correct answer is - A. Cecil Rhodes and Leopold II traveled into the interior, showing other European leaders that such journeys were advantageous.

Rhodes and Leopold II in a way opened the gates for the European leaders to have the desire and go to the interior of the African continent. It was not just because of the possibility to do so because the African tribes were by far disadvantaged technologically and military compared to the Europeans, but it was the treasures that the continent was offering and how easy was it to get to them and use them for trade and become wealthy. That lead to a major colonization of the continent by the European colonial powers, and they took full advantage of the natural resources Africa had to offer.