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Portugal controlled the spice trade between Europe and Asia for the majority of the 16th century.
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In the early 1500s, the Netherlands were part of the Holy Roman Empire, but later Protestant Northern Provinces began to want independence.
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The Portuguese seize the island of Goa off the coast of India and make it their major military and commercial base.
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The Portuguese had built a trading empire with military and merchant outposts.
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In 1510-1560, the Portuguese built up a trading Empire in Southeast Asia.
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The Portuguese took the East Indies port of Malacca under Albuquerque.
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Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain.
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Spain had conquered and colonized the Philippine islands.
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For 200 years, the Mughal Empire was peaceful, prosperous, and strong. Also in 1526, King Affonso I wrote a complaint letter to King John III of Portugal.
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A Dutch fleet returned to Amsterdam from Asia after more than a year's absence, leading to increase in overseas trade.
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A group of wealthy Dutch merchants form the Dutch East India Company.
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The Dutch captured Malacca from the Portuguese and opened trade with China.
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The growing power of England and France contributed to the decline of the Dutch trading empire in the East.
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Starting around the mid 1700s, the British and French had become locked in a bitter struggle for global power.
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The company used its great wealth to dominate most of India.
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The Dutch Empire in Indonesia ended.