Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution led to imperialism as European nations sought new sources of raw materials and markets for their mass-produced goods, with advances in technology providing the means for overseas expansion and control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Industrial Revolution led to the age of imperialism primarily by motivating European nations to secure new sources of raw materials to fuel their production. The Second Industrial Revolution sparked an enormous demand for raw materials like rubber, cotton, and mineral ores, necessary to sustain the technological innovations such as modern steel, electrical generators, and advances in transportation and communication. Factories producing massive amounts of goods created a need for vast new markets and resources, which were often found in other continents.
European powers, having developed superior weaponry and technology through the Industrial Revolution, could now more easily conquer and dominate territories in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, establishing colonies that provided the raw materials and markets necessary for their industrial economies. These colonies also served as strategic ports and stations for the steadily growing fleets of commercial steamships. The advancements in medicine, transportation (like railroads and steamboats), communication (telegraph and telephone), and weaponry (like the Maxim gun) further facilitated European dominance and control over these regions.