Final answer:
Maritime empires increased power through mercantilism and colonization, leading to complex political and economic dynamics. The Navigation Acts are an example of such strategies that tied colonies to the British Empire, fostering trade and economic growth but also sowing the seeds of political unrest.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic strategies maritime empires used to increase their power included exploration to discover new markets and resources, mercantilism to build national power through trade, and imperialism for political and economic control. As city-states evolved into empires, their pursuit of wealth led to the creation of global trade networks.
The effect of these developing empires on various dynamics was significant. Mercantilism fostered the relationship between the mother country and her colonies, with colonies providing raw materials and purchasing manufactured goods in return. The British, for example, implemented the Navigation Acts to control and benefit from colonial trade. This increased their economic prosperity and extended political dominance, affecting the political, economic, religious, and cultural dynamics within their empire.
However, such economic systems and strict trade regulations eventually seeded discontent, leading to political tensions and resistance, which were catalysts for the rise of new economic models like capitalism, and alternative systems suggested by Marxists.