Name one major motive behind European imperialism in Africa in the late 19th century.

• A. Economic resources
• B. National prestige
• C. Religious zeal
• D. Scientific curiosity

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that economic gain was the driving force behind European imperialism in Africa. Industrialized European powers needed raw materials to fuel factories—rubber, oil, minerals, and other resources—plus new markets to sell their manufactured goods. Controlling African lands allowed them to secure these resources, reduce costs by exploiting cheaper labor and production sites, and build profitable mining, plantation, and rail networks. This economic lure—the promise of profits and renewed access to capital—grew into the dominant motive that shaped the pace and pattern of empire-building.

Other motives did appear, such as desires for prestige, religious motivation, or curiosity, but they typically folded into or supported the push for economic advantages. The drive to extract resources and open markets best explains the scale and persistence of imperial activity in Africa during that period.