Answer: Economic interests and Ideological beliefs
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several reasons why European powers wanted to colonize Africa in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are two of the main reasons:
Economic interests: European powers were motivated by the desire to access the resources and markets of Africa. They wanted to extract raw materials, such as rubber, minerals, and oil, from African countries, and they also wanted to sell their own manufactured goods to African consumers. European powers also wanted to establish colonies in Africa as a way of gaining strategic advantages over their rivals, such as access to key shipping routes.
Ideological beliefs: European powers also had a strong sense of superiority and believed that they had a moral obligation to "civilize" and "modernize" African societies. They saw themselves as bringing the benefits of European culture, religion, and governance to Africa, and they often justified their colonization of Africa as a humanitarian mission. However, this justification was often used to mask their more selfish economic and strategic interests.