Page "Mercantilism" Paragraph 19

These efforts organized national resources sufficiently in the defense of England against the far larger and more powerful Spanish Empire, and in turn paved the foundation for establishing a global empire in the 19th century.

The authors noted most for establishing the English mercantilist system include Gerard de Malynes and Thomas Mun, who first articulated the Elizabethan System, which in turn was then developed further by Josiah Child.

Numerous French authors helped cement French policy around mercantilism in the 17th century.

This French mercantilism was best articulated by Jean-Baptiste Colbert ( in office, 1665 – 1683 ), though policy liberalised greatly under Napoleon.