Final answer:
The quest for raw materials and new markets during the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism led to countries dominating others, resulting in the expansion of empires and a global economic system dominated by Europe.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Industrial Revolution and the emergence of capitalism were driving forces that motivated countries to seek control over other regions. The need for raw materials to fuel industrial machines and the search for new markets to sell surplus goods created economic imperatives for countries to expand their influence and establish colonies overseas. Industrialized European nations, seeking to sustain their economic growth and wealth, turned their attention to Africa, Asia, and the Pacific to procure necessary resources and outlets for their products, leading to a second wave of imperial expansion.
Technological advancements in transportation and communication, such as steamships, railroads, telegraph, and the radio, facilitated the growth of empires by making it easier to manage and benefit from far-flung colonies. Besides these practical needs, the expansion was also driven by the desire for wealth and power, as well as the competition among industrialized nations.