At what point did France England and Spain all have the most land at the same time.

1 answer

The point in history when France, England, and Spain collectively had the most land was during the late 16th century, specifically around the time of the late 1500s. This period coincided with the height of the Age of Exploration and colonial expansion.

  1. Spain: Spain had established an extensive empire that included vast territories in the Americas, parts of the Caribbean, and territories in Asia (like the Philippines). The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) had granted Spain significant lands in the New World.

  2. England: England was beginning to establish its colonial presence, especially with the founding of the Roanoke Colony in 1585 and later ventures into North America. While England's colonies were not as extensive as those of Spain and France at this time, they were beginning their expansion.

  3. France: France was also involved in exploration, securing territories in North America (like Canada) and parts of the Caribbean during this period.

During this time, all three nations were heavily involved in overseas territories, colonial disputes, and exploration efforts. They had significant landholdings across different parts of the world, marking a period when all three possessed the most overseas territory simultaneously. However, it is worth noting that France and England were not at their colonial peak, as this came later during the 17th and 18th centuries. The late 16th century remains a key point of simultaneous expansion for all three powers.