Economic
desire to make money
to expand and control foreign trade
to create new markets for products
to acquire raw materials and cheap labor
to compete for investments and resources
to export industrial technology and transportation methods
Military
To claim territory to create bases to protect the empire
to exercise military force
to use as a refuel and resupply area
to boost national pride and security
Political
based on a nations desire to gain power
to compete with other european countries
to expand territory
to gain prestige by winning colonies
to boost national prid
Ideological
based on cultural values such as the belief that the white race was superior
other cultures were "primitive"
social Darwinism
europeans should "civilize" peoples in other parts of the world
great nations will survive
Religious
the desire to spread christianity
to protect european missionaries in other lands
to spread european values and moral beliefs
to educate peoples of other culture
to end slave trade in Africa
Exploratory
the desire to explore "unknown" or uncharted territory
to conduct scientific research
to conduct medical searches for the causes and treatments of disease
to go on an adventure
to investigate unknown cultures
