Why did the Empire Building occur during the 1900s?
Technology Advantages
Steam ships made long distances travel faster and safer.
Why were steam ships made? It was because of how people were afraid that more injuries and missings will occur if no one does anything about safety for overseas travelling.
New medicines made tropical diseases easier to be treatable.
Why were new medicines trying to be discovered? It was because if some kind of disease were to occur, there is always a possibility that a cure could be made for the disease. If that's the case, then we can save more people and might even be able to trade it with other countries for something that we lack.
Railways were made for colonies so that materials and troops move faster.
Railways were made to make the troops and material carriages to move faster as they would be more on track on looking in front of them instead of looking down at the path ways which would make them accidentally walk off the paths instead of walking on the paths. Since they will be carrying materials or charging into a war soon, they will be looking in front of them majority of the time rather than looking down and might accidentally trip or get ambushed.
New weapons were made.
The reason for new weapons were made was because Europeans needed the power to destroy and conquer the other parties and countries with an easier time rather than having a 50/50 chance of losing and winning. This will make the Europeans more threatening as well since the weapons are much more advanced and the other countries and parties would not dare to attack the Europeans after they show their weapons and advancements.
Explorers and missionaries
Explorers and missionaries are more interested in 3 different categories; adventure, wealth and fame. This will make them have determination in finding territories for their country.
Cecil Rhodes conquered multiple land, named into Zimbabwe.
Missionaries often mistakes their adventures for saving souls and helping the local beliefs as if they were thinking they were helping out God.
Economic reasons
The 3 different desires for more wealth were; raw materials, new markets and cheap labor.
The more newer countries that were conquered will help out with the raw materials and food materials.
The mother country and the colony weren't paid to each other. But colonies were still forced to purchase good from the mother country.
Population growth
Europe's population had significantly increase, causing shortages in the countryside and overcrowding cities.
Every 1 year, there will have 1 million people who had migrated away from Europe. The reason is because they wanted a better living condition than shortages.
Nationalism and national rivalries.
For the Europeans' rulers' perspectives. It was a great feeling to help out your country as you rule such a massive country.
Majority of Europeans' rulers wanted to attack Britain. So that is why there were tons of lands that were conquered without even caring whether it was for economic issues or not.
Strategic reasons
Britain was able to make a navy just to rule the oceans. And so they needed to dock for refuelling.
Multiple India's soldiers were recruited into British's army. Some were surviving soldiers from WWI and WWII.