Final answer:
European powers sought overseas colonies to gain prestige, access new markets, and acquire natural resources. The overthrow of European cities was not a motive for these competitions. Key motivators were economic benefits, national pride, and military strategy. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
European powers competed for overseas colonies during the age of imperialism for several important reasons, but C-European cities were overthrown was not one of them.
The main motives included Gaining prestige over other European rivals, B-the need for new overseas markets, and D-the need for natural resources. Prestige was gained through the acquisition of colonies, and countries competed to have the most and the best. Economic factors, like the need for raw materials and new markets, were directly linked to the Industrial Revolution, which necessitated cheap resources and customers for manufactured goods.
National pride, economic benefits from colonial trade, the need to access raw materials like gold and diamonds, and the adoption of military dominance played crucial roles. An example can be seen in the British conquest of South Africa's Zulu Nation, where natural resources such as diamonds and gold were paramount in the desire for control.