The most accurate response comparing 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 statement highlights a key distinction between maritime and land-based empires during that period. Maritime empires, such as those established by Spain, Portugal, and later the Dutch and British, were primarily focused on establishing trade networks and controlling shipping routes. In contrast, land-based empires like the Ottoman and Mughal Empires were more focused on territorial expansion and direct control over land and populations.