When Europeans first began to explore Africa, they found a great diversity of cultures.
Before the fifteenth century, European explorers moved to the east to trade with China and Central Asian countries. This road was called the Silk Road. However, from 1453, the Europeans could no longer pass by it because the Ottoman Empire refused them to go. So they had to find a new way to reach Asia from the west.
Arriving in Africa, the Portuguese, French, British, and Dutch explorers discovered a great diversity of languages and cultures. There are more than 2000 languages and dialects on this continent and 5 major language families such as:
1. Afro-Asiatic languages
Located in the north and east of Africa. Egypt, Middle East, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea.
2. Nilo-Saharan languages
Located in the center and east of Africa. Chad, Sudan, Niger, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania.
3. Niger-Congo languages
Located in the center, the whole west, and the east of Africa. It is the most important language family of the continent, it is spoken in many countries.
4. Khoisan languages
Located in the east and south of Africa. Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Kenya, and Tanzania.
5. Austronesian languages
Located on the islands of East Africa, such as Madagascar, Mayotte, Reunion, and Comoros.
The Europeans also met two great religions in Africa, the animism and Islam. It was because Muslim countries of Asia had arrived in Africa a long time before the countries of Europe.
Subject: History
Chapter: European explorations
Keywords: languages in Africa, the cultures and religions of Africa, European exploration of Africa, the diversity of Africa
Option (a) is correct. When Europeans first began to explore Africa they found a great diversity of cultures.
Further Explanation:
Exploration of Africa by Europeans:
Before Europeans, Portuguese have already explored Africa and they were trading with since 1444. Europeans made the expedition to Africa in 1830s and 1840s. in the early 19th century, Europeans were able to establish a scramble for Africa. It was a division of Africa’s territory into various colonies such as Portuguese and Europeans.
Africa: A great diversity of culture:
Africa has many ethnic cultures which makes it a diverse continent. Africa has a rich demographic with more than 3000 ethnic groups. The list of the major ethnic groups are as follows:
• Bantu farmers predominated in West Africa.
• Nilotic group predominated in East Africa.
• Swahilli people predominated in Central Africa.
• Khoikhoi people predominated in South Africa.
• Berbers predominated in North Africa.
These cultural groups had their own way of living, customs, and language which makes them different from each other and makes Africa a diverse continent. Besides ethnic groups, Africa had a diverse set of languages. At the time of exploration by Europeans, around 2,000 languages were spoken in Africa. The list of major language groups are as follows:
• Afro-Asiatic languages in North Africa.
• Niger-congo languages in the West and East Africa.
• Nilo-Saharan language in Center Africa.
• Khoisan languages in South Africa.
Thus, at the time of the exploration by the Europeans, Africa had 3,000 ethnic groups and around 2,000 languages which made it a great diverse continent.
Justification for the correct and incorrect options:
a.
A great diversity of culture: This is the correct option.
The variety of ethnic groups and languages made it a diverse continent.
b.
A single language shared by all Africans: This is an incorrect option.
There were around 2,000 spoken languages in Africa at the time of the exploration by the Europeans.
Learn more:
1. Learn more about immigration to Europe
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2. Learn more about the economic effect of Europe on Africa
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3. Learn more about the culture developed by Europeans
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Answer details:
Grade: Senior School
Subject: History
Chapter: Exploration of Africa
Keywords: Europeans, first, began, explore, Africa, find, great diversity, cultures, a single language, shared, all Africans.
