Mercantilism: How Colonies Served the Mother Country

Mercantilism was an economic theory prevalent in the 16th to 18th centuries that emphasized the importance of stockpiling wealth, primarily gold and silver, to enhance national power. Colonies were established by European powers to serve the interests of the mother country by providing raw materials and serving as markets for finished goods. This system ensured that the wealth generated from colonial resources benefited the mother country, often at the expense of the colonies' own economic growth. The mercantilist framework significantly shaped colonial policies, fostering a dependency that would later contribute to revolutionary sentiments among colonized peoples seeking autonomy.