What main factors contributed to european imperialism in the 1800s

There are various social, economic, and political reasons for the rise of imperialism in Europe. Trade has provided huge profit for the European states and there were greater zeal to protect it. The British occupation of Egypt was one such occupation to control the Suez canal. Another reason was the belief in the superiority of European race supplemented by social Darwinism. the competition among the European nations was not only economic reasons but it was also a matter of national prestige.