1. Particularly after the 1860s, European nations—motivated by a combination of economic, cultural, and political considerations—engaged in a vast imperial expansion.

2. European nations conquered much of the world during the nineteenth century, justifying their growing global presence through the liberal mission of "civilizing" the non-European world.

3. The European conquest fundamentally altered life both in the colonial holdings and in Europe itself through changes in gender roles, national identity, culture, and art.