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Nineteenth century European Imperialism has long been considered by sociologists of all ideological stripes to be a crucial event in shaping our modern world. By many accounts it ranks along side the industrial revolution in its historical importance. Because of this, 19th century imperialism was viewed as a manifestation of the large-scale social changes these researchers were basing their theories around. This meant that imperialism was seen as a singular event which could be directly attributed to macro level forces. This has meant that 19th century imperialism has been interpreted as the inevitable result of competition between stronger and weaker societies (Spencer), the logical progression of commercial interests looking to secure new markets (Marx), or the expansion of organic social structures around the world (Durkheim). This paper will examine this assertion against a historically based approach that views the events of this period as being the result of the actions of many various events. It will examine the political, economic, and social aspects of these events, within their local contexts. Additionally, as this paper is envisioned as part of a larger work, the primary focus will be on the European actors of this period. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]