Why did european contact with africa increase in the 1800s? a) cecil rhodes and leopold ii traveled into the interior, showing other european leaders that such journeys were advantageous. b) explorers and missionaries showed that travel into the interior was possible, due to medical advances and steamships. c)europeans and asians took a new interest in the slave trade, making increased contact valuable and necessary. d) an african elite welcomed westerners, eager to learn the culture and religion of the neighbors they admired.