Specifically around the colonial era. Why/How did the Europeans end up at the top? Was there specific traits that allowed Europeans to strive for more advanced warfare/technology in general?

I'm in AP world history, and my teacher said something along the lines of the Aztecs believing the Spanish were some sort of god because of their horses. I've also heard similar claims about the Inca, but these usually involve them believing the Spanish were gods of thunder due to their guns. Was this true?

Also, this is kind of off topic, but could I get a recommendation for a book on general Japanese history that isn't too difficult to comprehend for a high school student?

I took a survey on Russia a few semesters ago, and one of the things that stuck out to me were numerous instances in history in which seemingly random people claimed to be long-lost heirs and led insurrections. There were the three False Dmitriys and Pugachev claimed to Peter III. I think there might be others that I am forgetting (without even considering the modern Anastasia myth).

Was this sort of a culturally perpetuating thing, or did it have some roots in Russian aristocracy/autocracy?

If so, would steps have been taken to sanitize the raw meat before consumption?

Or am I fooled by my western perception of paper walls and open floor plan?

Or were other people from other religions/tribes also expecting him and anticipating Jesus?

And if yes, what were they expecting? ie. a king, a leader, a God, an angel...?

I am doing a film set during the end of WW1, and I really don't remember much about the War from history class.

What are some of the go-to books, lectures or series that explore the period up until, and including the First World War?

Lots of people use the bible's instruction to execute children who disobey their parents as an argument to say that the book is not a paragon of morality.

Were disobedient children often killed in that time period? And if so, when did that begin to become unacceptable?

I'm interested in my own country's history in WWII and the not so heroic actions of some of our brave soldiers. I've heard that Japanese taken as prisoners were commonly killed, and that on the Kokoda track Australian soldiers forced locals to assist them. As far as I can tell there is a bit of a dearth of information on this topic though. Can any of you wonderfully knowledgeable people help me out?

For reference, this claim is from page 9 of my new book, The Haunted Land: Facing Europe's Ghosts After Communism, by Tina Rosenberg.

What exactly does a "museum of Jewish life" entail? What were Hitler's plans for Prague, and is it true that there was hardly any damage to Czechoslovakia because of the Munich Conference and lack of subsequent fighting there?