When historians investigate how the Spanish and Portuguese built their empires, they notice (1 point)

there are no similarities between these countries' empire-building efforts

many similarties between how the two countries engaged in this process.

neither country was successful in building empires in the age of exploration

the Spanish and Portuguese did not follow advice from the Catholic Church when they began exploring.

To answer this question, historians would typically compare and contrast the empire-building efforts of the Spanish and Portuguese. By examining historical sources and studying primary accounts, historians can identify similarities and differences in how these two countries engaged in the process. They may review documentation such as exploration records, royal decrees, trade agreements, and diplomatic correspondence.

Historians might discover that there were indeed many similarities between how the Spanish and Portuguese built their empires. For example, both countries employed similar tactics such as establishing colonies, exploiting indigenous populations and resources, and utilizing their naval power for exploration and conquest. They also followed similar approaches in establishing trade routes and developing commercial networks.

On the other hand, historians may also find some differences in the strategies and outcomes of empire-building between Spain and Portugal. These differences could include variations in the geographical areas they targeted for colonization, the specific methods they employed to exploit colonies, and the levels of success they achieved in building and maintaining their empires.

To validate or dispute this observation, historians would rely on a variety of sources, including primary accounts from individuals involved in the exploration and empire-building efforts, official government records, cultural and intellectual works of the time, and secondary historical analyses and interpretations. By examining these sources and comparing the evidence, historians can make informed conclusions about the similarities and differences in empire-building between the Spanish and Portuguese.