“The expansion of early modern colonial empires was motivated by economic factors.” Discuss with reference to two early modern colonial empires.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the hypothesis with reference made to two early modern colonial empires. While the focus of the response must be within the timeframe of this topic, the two colonial empires need not be contemporaneous. Further, the two colonial empires may or may not be chosen from different regions. Candidates must identify the reasons why the colonial empires expanded, and gauge the importance of economic factors in this context. Candidates may determine that economic factors were the most significant motivation in one or both states or, alternatively, argue that other factors were of equal or more importance in one or both states. Each colonial empire may be considered separately or a thematic approach may be used if candidates choose to address the impact of a range of factors on the candidates’ chosen colonial empires.