The Portuguese and Spanish empires publicly linked expansion to spreading Catholicism. In this interpretation, religion supplied an altruistic justification and motivation for participants, while money remained the practical engine. Portugal's commercial administration could outperform Spain even though Spanish fleets carried American silver, and that success both protected Portugal and made its wealth attractive to Spanish rulers. Spices were scarce in Europe and commanded desire-driven prices, while silver already circulated there. A spice monopoly could then finance the forces and infrastructure used to defend it.
Notable Point · 7:22-9:07
Catholic mission rhetoric and the spice monopoly
Religious language gave Portuguese and Spanish expansion an altruistic public purpose, while commercial profit and monopoly power drove the system described here.