---
title: Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700
author: Simeon Netchev
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21446/map-of-european-expansion--mercantile-empires-c-17/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
updated: 2025-12-11
---

# Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700

_Authored by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/)_

## Image File

[![Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21446.png)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21446.png)

## Image Caption

A map of European empires c. 1700. By the 18th century, European power had become truly global through a combination of maritime expansion, state-backed commerce, and military force. The leading Atlantic empires, Spain, Portugal, the Dutch Republic, [England](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/england/), and France, had transformed overseas [trade](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/trade/) into an instrument of state power. Spain and Portugal, pioneers of early expansion in the 15th–16th centuries, still controlled vast overseas territories, particularly in the Americas and the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Dutch Republic (Republic of the Seven United Provinces) built a commercial [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/) through chartered companies such as the VOC, dominating key nodes of global trade. England (Kingdom of Great [Britain](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Britain/) after 1707) and France, under [Louis XIV](https://www.worldhistory.org/Louis_XIV_of_France/) (reign 1643–1715), emerged as aggressive competitors in both Atlantic and Asian markets. This system, known as mercantilism, prioritized bullion accumulation, controlled trade routes, and colonial monopolies as foundations of national power.

At the same time, not all European expansion was maritime. The [Ottoman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ottoman_Empire/) - a major transcontinental power, controlled Southeast [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/), North [Africa](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/africa/), and the eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/) through land-based imperial systems rather than oceanic [colonization](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/colonization/). In the northeast, the Tsardom of Russia, under [Peter the Great](https://www.worldhistory.org/Peter_the_Great/) (reign 1682–1725), was rapidly expanding across Siberia and toward the Baltic, laying the foundations of the later Russian Empire (from 1721). By 1700, Europe’s empires were fully interconnected, fiercely competitive, and structurally global.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history educator, passionate about the human stories that shape the past.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simeon-netchev/)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Netchev, S. (2025, December 10). Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21446/map-of-european-expansion--mercantile-empires-c-17/>
### Chicago
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 10, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21446/map-of-european-expansion--mercantile-empires-c-17/>.
### MLA
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of European Expansion & Mercantile Empires, c. 1700." *World History Encyclopedia*, 10 Dec 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21446/map-of-european-expansion--mercantile-empires-c-17/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [Simeon Netchev](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/simeonnetchev/ "User Page: Simeon Netchev"), published on 10 December 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0deed.en). This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.