Which statement identifies a weakness of Portuguese colonial rule?

Question

The Portuguese were weakened by the mercantile system
The Portuguese were weakened by their small population in their African colonies
The Portuguese were weakened by a small indigenous population in Brazil
The Portuguese were weakened by the slave trade.

Answer 1

The statement that identifies a weakness of Portuguese colonial rule is:

The Portuguese were weakened by their small population in their African colonies.

This reflects the challenges faced by the Portuguese in maintaining control and governance over their vast colonial territories, particularly in regions where they had relatively few settlers compared to the indigenous populations.