The Imperial Age saw the economic, political, social and cultural expansion of control by the British, French,
Belgians, Dutch, Americans and Russians. Their goal was to dominate and exploit the population and wealth of Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. They commonly held a belief, that it was the “white man’s burden” to bring western culture to the world. Individuals were sent to “convert” the native populations to European and American ways.  Military and economic pressure was utilized to influence and change the world into the imperialists way of thought. The non-European world was changed in ways that today we regret. Politically British, French, Belgians, Dutch, Americans and Russian grew in strength and power while the Ottoman, Spanish and Portuguese Empires declined and the Holy Roman and Mughal Empires ended. Much of what we consider modern has in its foundation this century. 

Culturally great changes swept the world. The Victorian lifestyle became the model of most of the world. Slavery ended in England, Russia, Brazil and the United States. The advent of the Industrial Revolution transformed every aspect of our commercial, political and social.