5. Describe the trading post empire of the Portuguese.

The  Portuguese mariners, once from some of the poorest regions of Europe, were able to build the first trading post empire. They reached success by controlling trading routes rather than conquering territories. This was accomplished by making the merchant vessels pay duties at fortified trading sites. Vasco de Gama, after getting his proposition sanctioned, made a trading post in Calicut, and there were trading posts all along west Africa and East Asia.