What geographic factor inhibited the ability of nations to
explore africa? what geographic feature proved to be a
highway to the interior of africa?

we need the map to answer the question

the romans were initially interested in expansion via sicily (which at that time was a cultural melting pot), part of which lay under carthaginian control. at the start of the first punic war (264-241 bc), carthage was the dominant power of the western mediterranean, with an extensive maritime empire