Answer:
Exploration of Africa was begun by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, along the coasts. The Portuguese soon tapped the lucrative slave market, and started to build colonies in the coasts.
With time, other European powers took interest in Africa and sent their own explorers at first, and settlers after. Exploration soon expanded inland, and colonies were founded by most Western European Countries, mainly Spain, France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In conclusion, European exploration of Africa was the first step in bringing about colonialism.
