Final answer:
The late 1800s imperialist activity was spurred by political, cultural, and economic motives, facilitated by technological innovation and justified by ideologies like Social Darwinism. Economic factors included the need for new markets and raw materials, while political motives focused on national prestige and power.
Step-by-step explanation:
The imperialist activity of the late 1800s was driven by a multitude of factors. Political motives included the desire for national prestige and the belief that controlling more territory equated to greater power on the world stage. Cultural influences such as Social Darwinism and a fixation with race convinced Europeans of their superiority and the moral justification for their imperial conquests. The economic imperatives were particularly strong, with the need to acquire new customers for factory-produced goods and essential raw materials for industrial processes.
Technological advancements played a pivotal role in facilitating imperialism. Innovations like the telegraph, railroad, steamboat, and the Maxim gun allowed a small number of Europeans to dominate extensive territories.
This period also saw economic 'neo-imperialism' in Latin America, where countries, though politically independent, were economically controlled by European and U.S. investors, leading to scenarios of 'gunboat diplomacy' to ensure repayment of debts to European banks.
The late nineteenth century thus experienced a 'perfect storm' of technology, ideology, and economic need that fueled the global imperialist expansion, leaving a profound impact on world history and geopolitics.