Final answer:
The primary focus of Mercantilism was to maximize national wealth by accumulating gold and silver through a positive trade balance, enabled by strict government control of the economy, including tariffs, monopolies, and subsidies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary focus of Mercantilism as a political doctrine was to maximize a nation's wealth by accumulating precious metals like gold and silver, which were considered the epitome of national wealth. This goal was primarily achieved through a positive balance of trade. To ensure this, mercantilist policies involved government regulation of the economy through various means such as imposing tariffs, granting trading monopolies, and subsidizing domestic industries to reduce reliance on foreign imports. Additionally, European nations sought to acquire colonies to supply raw materials and serve as markets for their domestically manufactured goods, which further reinforced the mercantilist system.