Imperialism shaped the modern boundaries of the world and established the major trade relations we have now.
Explanation:
The international boundaries of the countries drawn during the time of the imperialists still exist and all the major powers of the time of industrialization are still the powers of the world.
Earlier times had expansions too but those were less permanent land expansions and were often not done at the expense of the land that was won over for the land that was being taking the resources.
In the older days, it was usual for the new conquered land to be treated as the part of the original country but not in imperial society.
