Why were the europeans the people who were able to conquer so many of the world's great civilizations and control so much of the world?

Europeans were able to conquer many great civilizations due to a combination of advanced military technology, such as gunpowder and cannons, and strategic advantages like maritime navigation that allowed for long-distance exploration and colonization. They often exploited existing rivalries and divisions within indigenous societies, forming alliances or using divide-and-conquer tactics. Additionally, the spread of diseases brought by Europeans devastated local populations, significantly weakening resistance to conquest. This confluence of factors enabled European powers to establish control over vast territories across the globe.