Imperialism as a Nationalistic Phenomenon

Hayes proclaims that colonialism united countries within themselves by giving them a common goal of power. As examples, he references several physically small yet powerful European countries that colonized many regions in order to raise their homeland's power and status in the world. It pressed a reaction that lead to the desire to maintain or recover national prestige. 

Colonialism: The Age of Empire (by Eric J. Hobsbawn)

In "The Age of Empire", Eric J. Hobsbawn comments on colonialism and its relations to economy. He describes that nations colonize other countries as a means to show their power and as a way to expand their own economic success. Colonialism is an indirect way for countries to compete with each other. It's a race to expand more; to have more land to gain wealth. This idea of spreading to gain and show power coincides with the actions of the Islamic nations and Napoleon.