How did Europeans justify controlling territory around the world?
A.Europeans believed they needed international ports to transport goods.
B.Europeans believed other territories wanted to be conquered.
C.Europeans believed new territories were needed as manufacturing centers.
D.Europeans believed their culture was superior to that of other societies.
I think its D
I agree.
To determine the answer, we can break down the question and examine each option.
Option A suggests that Europeans justified controlling territory around the world because they believed they needed international ports to transport goods. While trade and access to resources were important factors in European expansion, it does not provide a comprehensive explanation for their territorial control beyond the need for trade routes.
Option B proposes that Europeans believed other territories wanted to be conquered. This reasoning does not account for the active role played by Europeans in pursuing and legitimizing their territorial claims.
Option C suggests that Europeans believed new territories were needed as manufacturing centers. While expanding production capabilities may have been a consideration for some colonial powers, it does not capture the broader justifications and ideologies associated with European imperialism.
Option D posits that Europeans believed their culture was superior to that of other societies. This idea aligns with the concepts of cultural supremacy and ethnocentrism that were widespread during the era of European colonization. Europeans often used ideas of "civilizing missions" to justify the control and domination of other territories.
Considering the historical context, option D is the most accurate explanation for how Europeans justified controlling territory around the world. They believed that their culture, technology, and systems of governance were superior to those of other societies, leading to a sense of entitlement to control and influence non-European territories.
Thus, the correct answer is D. Europeans believed their culture was superior to that of other societies.