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The exploration of resources have shaped economic history throughout time.  It fueled the growth of great empires from the Athenians and the Chin Dynasty to the Mongol Khans. Later, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom achieved global prominence by gaining control over large, resource-rich regions.  Between the mid-16th and late 18th century, Europe's domain spread from three million to over seven million square kilometers, with greatly expanded access to both foodstuffs and mineral riches