European global hegemony resulted from economic advantage, not cultural superiority.

Evidence

Orientalism is never far from what Denys Hay has called the idea of Europe, a collective notion identifying “us” Europeans as against all “those” non-Europeans, and indeed it can be argued that the major component in European culture is precisely what made that culture hegemonic both in and outside Europe: the idea of European identity as a superior one in comparison with all the non-European peoples and cultures. — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 62 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Slavery’s advantage, not intrinsic superiority, let European nations become capitalist superpowers. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 253; Financialization is a political project tied to US hegemony, not a market efficiency outcome. — Natascha van der Zwan, Making Sense of Financialization, 35; Europe achieved hegemony only through mercantile imperialism and capitalism, not inherent superiority — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 103 (+9 more)

Broader Connections

• European cultural hegemony rests on the idea of European superiority #complicates (0.82) — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 62