Final answer:
European imperialism spread rapidly through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia due to geographic advantages, immunity to germs, and advanced technology and societal structures, fueled by access to unlimited energy sources that allowed superior military and medical efficiency.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Diamond, ideas spread more easily in Europe than in America due to factors such as geography, immunity to germs, food production, domestication of animals, and the use of steel. These factors allowed European nations to quickly spread imperialism through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, exploiting rich natural resources to benefit their economies. Superior technology, access to unlimited energy from fossil fuels, and advanced military and medical equipment gave Europeans an overwhelming advantage over the indigenous populations during the age of imperial expansion.
In addition to geographic advantages, European societies had societal structures that promoted segmentation along religious and racial lines. As societies divided between the haves and have-nots, the institution of slavery and servitude enabled considerable wealth generation for Europeans. The confluence of technological, health, and organizational advances, fueled by energy access, tipped the scales in favor of European nations, making their imperialism swift and effective.