Final answer:
Europe was connected to Africa and Asia through the Silk Road and trans-Saharan trade routes before the Age of Discovery. Europe's early exploration led to trade and contact that transformed global networks, especially through the Atlantic World, which linked the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
In what ways was Europe connected to Africa and Asia prior to European exploration? The answer is A. Through the Silk Road and trans-Saharan trade routes. Prior to the Age of Discovery, Europe had established connections with Africa and Asia primarily via ancient trade networks such as the Silk Road and the trans-Saharan trade routes.
These paths facilitated exchanges not only of goods like spices, silk, and gold but also cultural and technological ideas. Furthermore, the early 15th century marked a period when Europe emerged from the Middle Ages with heightened exploration, seeking alternate routes to the East and establishing early contacts with African kingdoms.
This European contact with Africa, especially with the Portuguese trading in gold, ivory, and slaves, kickstarted a new era of global trade networks, leading to the development of the larger Atlantic World. In Africa, different regions experienced the impact of European contact diversely. Northern and Eastern Africa had old trade links through the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean and were influenced by the spread of Islam and Christianity.
However, the advent of European traders and explorers began contesting African control over their own lands and markets. The 16th century saw Western and Central Africa greatly affected by the European-fueled slave trade, while Southern Africa experienced significant European migration with the establishment of colonies like the Dutch Cape Colony in 1652.