1. Reflection on Yali's Question

I think why the White Europeans came to control most of the world was for a multitude of reasons. First, Europe was in a good place in terms of trade. Next, Europeans advanced in terms of technology whereas other civilizations were too steeped in tradition to adjust to the times rapidly enough. Lastly, Europe's geography helped the europeans greatly.
Europe was in a good place for trade because it was surrounded on all sides by great civilizations. To the Southof Europe, there was Egypt and Africa, to the East, the Middle Eastern civilizations and china and to the north, Vikings and nomads. Europe came to domination because they used and combined technologies of all these civilizations.
Once europe had this technology they used it. Unlike civilizations of the east, the European countries would through out tradition to gain a foothold against their rivals. Europe is such a small continent with so many countries and those countries would always be fighting for superiority.
The geography of europe also helped defend europeans but not isolate them. To the South was the Medditeranean Sea, to the East, freezing temperatures and mountains of Russia, to the North, the Arctic Circle and to the West, the Atlantic Ocean.
I think the combination of all these things helped Europeans gain control of much of the world.