Final answer:
European influence over Egypt and Morocco heightened tensions due to territorial disputes in North Africa. This scramble for Africa fueled by nationalism and competition for resources and strategic locations, like the control of the Suez Canal, led to diplomatic crises exemplified by incidents such as the Fashoda Incident.
Step-by-step explanation:
European influence over Egypt and Morocco heightened tensions among the major European powers primarily because A. It led to territorial disputes in North Africa. The scramble for Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw various European countries competing for territorial control, driven by a blend of nationalism, economic interests, and strategic advantages. European nations, including Britain and France, sought to increase their political influence and economic gains through the acquisition of colonies.
The colonization efforts and the pursual of strategic locations such as Egypt, for controlling the Suez Canal, and Morocco, as a protectorate or colony, led to international incidents and diplomatic crises, further intensifying the competition and mistrust among European powers. The Fashoda Incident, for example, was a direct confrontation between colonial ambitions of France and Britain in Sudan, highlighting the intense rivalry for African territories which could connect colonial possessions.
European powers' settlements in Africa were also driven by the continent's rich natural resources, which were exploited and sent back to Europe to benefit the upper class. The competition was not only over land but also over the control of resources and the establishment of trade routes, intensifying the colonial race and the associated geostrategic conflicts.