Expanding maritime empires between 1450 and 1750 were driven by a combination of economic, political, and strategic motives, as imperial powers sought to extend their influence and control over distant territories and trade routes. European empires utilized a variety of strategies to expand their maritime domains, including military conquest, colonization, diplomacy, and economic coercion. Spanish conquistadors, for example, embarked on daring voyages of exploration and conquest in the Americas, subjugating indigenous civilizations and seizing vast territories in the name of empire. Portuguese navigators, motivated by the desire to find a sea route to Asia, established trading outposts and colonies along the coasts of Africa and Asia, creating a global network of maritime trade that linked Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Dutch merchants and privateers, backed by the resources of the Dutch East India Company, engaged in lucrative trade with Asia and established colonies in the East Indies, Africa, and the Americas. Meanwhile, English and French imperialists vied for dominance in North America, establishing colonies and trading posts that served as bases for further expansion. The expansion of maritime empires transformed the geopolitical landscape of the early modern world, reshaping international relations, trade patterns, and cultural exchange on a global scale.