Final answer:
During their conflicts, Portugal and Spain had both positive and negative effects on trade. They established trade networks, explored new lands, and used commodities like silver in trade. However, their conflicts and colonization efforts had negative consequences for trade in certain regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the time when Portugal and Spain were in conflict, they had both positive and negative effects on trade. On the positive side, Portugal, under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, established trade networks along the coast of West Africa and in India, which allowed for the exchange of goods and resources. Similarly, the Spanish explored new lands and established trading posts, such as the Philippines, using silver from their colonies as a significant commodity for trade.However, the conflicts between the Portuguese, Spanish, and other European powers had negative consequences for trade. The ongoing intrusions and military might of the Europeans began to affect the order in China, weakening the government and impacting trade. Additionally, the conflicts and colonization efforts in Africa and Asia led to tensions and decline in local trade.In conclusion, while Portugal and Spain had positive impacts on trade through the establishment of trading networks and exploration of new lands, their conflicts with other European powers and their colonization efforts had negative consequences on trade in certain regions.