Question

which sentence best describes why european powers competed for new colonies in africa and asia in the early 1900s?

• europeans wanted to demonstrate their power.
• europeans wanted more territory to prepare for the threat of war.
• europeans wanted to help people in colonies become more european.
• europeans wanted to make more accurate maps of the world.

Explanation:

In the early 1900s (late New Imperialism), European powers competed for colonies in Africa and Asia primarily to showcase geopolitical dominance, access resources, and secure markets. The other options are incorrect: war preparation was not the core driver, the "civilizing mission" was a ideological justification not the main reason, and map-making was a secondary activity, not the motive for colonial competition.

Answer:

Europeans wanted to demonstrate their power.