The statement that best compares the development of maritime empires with land-based empires in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries is:
The maritime empires focused on control of trade routes in the Indian Ocean rather than the control of people and land.
This reflects how maritime empires, such as those established by Spain, Portugal, and later the Dutch and British, prioritized trade and commerce over territorial conquest, especially in regions like the Indian Ocean, where controlling trade routes was critical for economic advantage. In contrast, land-based empires often expanded their influence through territorial conquest and governance over vast land areas, focusing more on direct control over populations and resources.