The three G's, God, Glory, and Gold. They could spread their beliefs and society (God) to whomever they encountered, making them "less savage," they would gain glory just for conquering new lands and expanding their empires, and they could achieve riches by taking the lands they found for their own personal use and resource collection.
In this story, the author is making the point that humans and animals are far more similar in many ways than people tend to think, specifically when it comes to forming relationships.
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In 330 AD, Constantine, then the emperor of the Roman Empire, moved the seat of power to Constantinople. Then, Constantine founded a "second Rome" (the Byzantine Empire). The city was strategically placed on the trade routes between Europe and Asia, and the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, making it ideal for trade and travel.
Catholic. Not only does the Pope reside in Italy and they are frequently chosen from Italy, but lots of French and Spanish art is heavily influenced by Catholic themes.