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.