The main motive behind imperialism has been aforetime categorised as primarily

The main motive behind imperialism has been primarily "to obtain and control a supply of raw materials for industries." During the era of European imperialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, European powers sought to expand their empires and control territories around the world. One of the primary motivations for this was to secure a supply of raw materials for their growing industries back home. These raw materials included minerals, metals, and agricultural products such as rubber, palm oil, and cotton. The European powers also sought to establish trade networks and markets in the territories they colonized, which would enable them to sell their manufactured goods and generate profits. In addition, imperialism was driven by a desire to acquire strategic locations for military bases and geopolitical influence. While there were other factors that contributed to imperialism, such as cultural and ideological beliefs, economic motives were the main driving force behind the expansion of Western empires.