Final answer:
Spain colonized vast areas of the Americas, toppling native empires for political and economic control, while Portugal focused on establishing trading ports in Africa, India, and Brazil. Both countries' colonies were far larger than their Iberian homelands, with Spain creating settlement colonies and Portugal creating a trading network with strategic outposts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Colonization: Spain and Portugal
When analyzing the worldwide map of where Spain and Portugal established colonies by 1600, we notice notable differences in their colonization patterns. Spain extensively colonized vast areas of the Americas, including what is now Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. They embarked on complex conquests, toppling empires such as the Aztec and the Inca, seeking to control these regions politically and economically. Meanwhile, Portugal focused on establishing trading ports and setting up smaller colonies along the coast of West Africa, in India, and eventually in Brazil within the Americas.
Comparing the size and area of the colonized regions to the Iberian Peninsula, where both countries are located, the colonized lands were substantially larger. For example, the Spanish Empire at its peak was one of the largest empires in history, vastly exceeding the size of the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal's territories were smaller compared to Spain's, yet they were still significantly larger than the home country when considering the expansive trade networks and the strategic coastal fortifications around Africa and Asia.
The goals of Spain and Portugal also varied somewhat. While both countries were interested in wealth and trade routes, Spain established more settlement colonies that mirrored their own homeland, leading to a substantial Spanish population in these areas. Portugal, on the other hand, focused more on creating a trading empire with far-flung outposts that facilitated commerce rather than extensive settlement.