Final answer:
Notions of superiority allowed Europeans to justify systems such as colonialism during the age of imperialism, under the guise of civilizing missions powered by technological and ideological confidence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Notions of superiority allowed Europeans to justify systems such as colonialism in the age of imperialism. This was influenced by a belief in a civilizing mission and the idea that European culture and Christianity were beneficial to the colonized societies. Factors like industrial technological advancement, economic interests, and Social Darwinism reinforced the perception that Europeans had the right and duty to dominate other regions.
The era of imperialism saw European powers, equipped with industrial technology and driven by ideological beliefs, engage in direct or indirect control over other parts of the world. This imperialism was rationalized by the supposed need to civilize 'backward' peoples. The extraction of wealth and introduction of Western cultural elements, such as religion and education, were part of this process, even as it led to widespread exploitation and violence.