Did Europe's mercantilist empires pay? (effect of mercantilism on the economic growth of Western Europe) From: History Today | Date: March 1, 1996| Author: O'Brien, Patrick | COPYRIGHT 1996 History Today Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The era of mercantilism, spanning between 1492 and 1846, did not contribute greatly to the longterm economic growth of Britain. There were other factors that were more significant, such as the British Empire's very productive agriculture and plentiful coal resources.

European imperialism or the direct intrusion of power into the political, economic and social affairs of other peoples and other continents is represented in a history which goes back five centuries to the voyages of d...