(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Medium of History

During the 16th century, the European maritime expansion reached its peak, driven by a set of economic, technological, and political factors. Mercantilism, the predominant economic system at the time, supported the idea that a nation's wealth was directly linked to its economic power, especially through the accumulation of precious metals. In this context, Portugal and Spain emerged as pioneers of the great navigations, which led to the discovery of new lands, trade routes, and the formation of colonial empires. Evaluate the following excerpt, authored by historian Roberto Bedmar, in the light of the presented context, and answer the proposed questions: 'Maritime expansion was not just an act of geographic curiosity, but an economic and political imperative. The Iberian crowns, mainly Portugal and Spain, heavily invested in naval technology and the exploration of new trade routes, aiming not only at expanding their territories, but at accumulating wealth to sustain their states and their political and military ambitions.' (Roberto Bedmar, 'The Age of Navigations', 2010)