One reason that Europeans offered for their imperial policies was the "White Man's Burden" ideology, which argued that it was the duty of European powers to civilize and educate the "uncivilized" peoples of the world. They believed that their culture, religion, and institutions were superior to those of other nations and that it was their responsibility to spread their values and way of life to these "inferior" peoples. This ideology was used to justify the colonization and exploitation of non-European countries.
