Why did the maritime trading routes become subject of fierce rivalries between the Portuguese, Dutch, and British by the 16th and 17th centuries?
ABecause the conquest of ports along the maritime routes brought both wealth and security.[|]Because the conquest of ports along the maritime routes would make the rulers more influential.[|]Because the countries wanted to loot(抢劫) the merchant vessels from other regions.[|]Because the countries wanted to protect their own merchant vessels.