The option that had the BIGGEST and EARLIEST impact on the system of mercantilism that developed in the 1600s is the colonization of the Americas.
The colonization of the Americas provided European powers with vast resources, new markets, and opportunities for trade, all of which were essential components of the mercantilist economic system. This process began in the late 15th century and intensified throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, significantly influencing economic policies and practices during the mercantilist period.