​Migration patterns changed dramatically throughout this period and the numbers of migrants increased significantly. These changes were closely connected to the development of transoceanic empires and a global capitalist economy. In some cases, people benefitted economically from migration, while other peoples were seen simply as commodities to be transported. In both cases, migration produced dramatically different societies for both sending and receiving societies and presented challenges to governments in fostering national identities and regulating the flow of people.

As states industrialized during this period, they also expanded existing overseas colonies and established new types of colonies and transoceanic empires. Regional warfare and diplomacy both resulted in and were affected by this process of modern empire-building. The process was led mostly by Europe, although not all states were affected equally, which led to an increase of European influence around the world. The United States and Japan also participated in this process. The growth of new empires challenged the power of existing land-based empires of Eurasia. New ideas about nationalism, race, gender, class and culture also developed that both facilitated the spread of transoceanic empires and new states, as well as justifying anti-imperial resistance and the formation of new national identities.