Final answer:
The desire to control land was influenced by various practical, strategic, and economic considerations such as access to natural resources, strategic location, markets for goods, and political power and influence, transcending the conventional motivations of 'glory, god, and gold'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practical, strategic, or economic considerations that motivated the desire to control land include the following:
- Access to resources: Territories were often rich in natural resources that were vital for the industrialization and economic growth of European powers. By controlling these lands, they would directly access materials such as gold, spices, and later during the industrial revolution, oil and rubber.
- Strategic location: Control over certain geographical areas allowed nations to protect their trade routes, place military bases at strategic points, and prevent other powers from gaining an upper hand.
- Markets for goods: Colonies served as markets for the imperial powers’ manufactured goods. This created a captive market that would consume their products, thereby boosting the home economy.
- Political power and influence: Gaining new territories allowed a nation to increase its stature and influence in international politics. This often led to a domino effect where powers would seize land to prevent their rivals from expanding.
- Motivations related to fascist expansion: Fascist dictators sought territory as a testament to their nation’s strength, ideology, and to sustain their military economies.
While the traditional motives for European exploration and expansion are summed up as “God, glory, and gold,” it is clear that the actual reasons were deeply rooted in complex economic, strategic, and geopolitical factors.