The most accurate comparison between the development of maritime empires and land-based empires in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries from the provided responses is:
The maritime empires focused on control of trade routes in the Indian Ocean rather than the control of people and land.
Maritime empires, such as those established by European powers like Portugal and Spain, were primarily concerned with establishing trade networks and controlling key trade routes across oceans. In contrast, land-based empires, such as the Ottoman Empire or the Mughal Empire, were more focused on territorial expansion, governance over large populations, and the administration of land. This distinction highlights the different strategies and priorities of maritime versus land-based empires during this period.