>>17294393Yes, fantasy. The nature and causes of the 19th-century expansions are completely misrepresented, and it ties into the fantasy of Europeans just marching wherever they want and taking over through direct force just by virtue of having a larger, stronger tax base and immunity to a magical tech penalty that keeps hitting the world.
This is, if anything, disrespectful to those who overcame the real challenges associated with the real-life equivalents.
Further, it mentally stunts those who could benefit from understanding the systems that defined the period, as well as the policies and perspectives associated with all sides.
