The most accurate comparison regarding the development of maritime empires versus 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.
Maritime empires, such as those established by Spain, Portugal, and later the Dutch and British, primarily sought to control key trade routes and establish trade networks. Their focus was on commerce, trade based on shipping, and the establishment of strategic ports. In contrast, land-based empires, such as the Ottoman Empire or the Mughal Empire, were more focused on territorial expansion and control over large land areas and the people within them.