What underlying cause led to the significant economic disparities between core and peripheral nations as a result of colonialism?

Colonialism created significant economic disparities between core and peripheral nations primarily through the exploitation of resources and labor. Core nations, often the colonizers, took valuable resources from peripheral nations, which are typically the colonized countries. This meant that the wealth generated from these resources enriched the core nations while leaving peripheral nations impoverished and dependent. For example, when European countries colonized Africa, they extracted minerals and agricultural products but did not invest in local economies, leading to long-term economic challenges for those nations. As a result, the effects of colonialism still influence global inequality today, with core nations continuing to benefit from the historical exploitation of peripheral nations.