818 Ch. 20 • Responses to a Changing Worldother to increase their domination of the globe. The European imperial
powers included Great Britain and France, old rivals for colonies, as well
as Germany and Italy, which also sought to extend what each considered its
national interests. Imperial rivalries helped solidify international alliances,
dividing Europe into two armed camps. The avant-garde had good reason,
as it turned out, to be anxious.