Dark ages

[DanJ]

Zulu army, the Ashanti, the Maori were without merit

I wouldn't say that any of these were without merit or that the British Soldier wasn't brave in situations which were often terrible.  However many of those situations were either deliberately manufactured by politicians, often in existing colonies, or were the result of mismanagement by commanders who repeatedly underestimated the opposition.

The Victorians were doing the same as everyone else had done throughout history, they were just much better at it than anyone else had ever been, a unique combination of technology, lust for adventure, sheer greed and ruthless self confidence.

[fsn]

The Victorians were doing the same as everyone else had done throughout history, they were just much better at it than anyone else had ever been, a unique combination of technology, lust for adventure, sheer greed and ruthless self confidence.

And religious zealotry. Like you say, they just did what the Romans, Persian/Medes, Swedes et al have done, and doubtless the Americans, Russians and Chinese continue to do.