(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Easy of History

During the early modern period, Europe witnessed a remarkable maritime expansion driven by technological innovations, commercial ambitions, and the development of a new economic model, mercantilism. The latter, characterized by the political and economic centralization of the State and the pursuit of precious metals, played a significant role in financing discovery voyages and in the division of newly found lands among maritime powers. Adam Smith, in his work 'The Wealth of Nations,' describes this period of expansion as 'the pursuit of commercial routes and the establishment of colonies as the two ways in which the opulence of the original world was both increased and redistributed.' Based on this context and Adam Smith's quote, answer: 1) How did the principles of mercantilism encourage European nations to invest in maritime explorations and how did this new economic perspective influence the division and conquest of overseas lands? 2) Explain how Portugal and Spain's pioneering in establishing commercial routes and colonies reflects mercantilist ideas in action.