Orientalism was a driving force in justifying colonialism for the British and French, it was a framework to view the East as wrong and the West as right. It was also a major part in a new form of imperial conquest, subjugating a people ideologically. Orientalist ideas were spread not only to Western people, but throughout the East and the surrounding people to cement the idea. The idea that Europe needed to “rescue” artifacts from the original “irresponsible” culture is not new, but was pushed farther during this time. For example, in Egypt, Europeans recorded and studied every inch of Egypt’s culture and people, “scientifically” putting Egypt down and raising Europe as superior. Recently, this is shown with the British Museum and its plethora of stolen items, many from the East. The British government does not believe that the origin countries can properly take care of their cultural items and thus wont return them. The reasoning for this belief is purely orientalist, based in no actual logic.