What major advancement helped facilitate exploration in Africa during the Scramble for Africa?

The major advancement that significantly contributed to exploration in Africa during the Scramble for Africa was indeed medical advancements. Specifically, the development of treatments for diseases such as malaria, particularly the introduction of quinine as a preventive measure, allowed European explorers, missionaries, and colonizers to venture deeper into the continent without the crippling fear of illness that had previously hampered their efforts. This development was critical, as many explorers had fallen gravely ill or died from diseases endemic to Africa prior to these advancements.

This new level of protection against tropical diseases enabled European powers to pursue territorial claims more aggressively and facilitated not only exploration but also the establishment of colonial administrative systems. As a result, medical advancements played an essential role in enabling sustained European presence in various regions of Africa during this period.

Other advancements like communication, transportation, and energy technologies were significant in their own right but were not as directly influential in the context of safely exploring and settling in Africa during the late 19th century.