Merchantilism

Question: What are the main factors leading Mercantilism to rise and grow?
Mercantilism is an economic idea whose main attempt is to create wealthy and powerful nations. Through some policies and tariffs, countries aimed to limit import and increase export and so they increase their wealth. According to mercantilism, the wealth depends on ownership of some metals such as gold and silver. This system was dominant in Western Europe between 17th and 18th centuries and there some political, cultural, religious and economic factors which give rise mercantilism to grow.
Reformation and Protestantism generated some intellectual and religious changes in Europe at the beginning of 16th century. These movements brought about personal freedom and individualism ideas. Before Reformation and Protestantism movements, religious factors have great impact on the lives of individuals. Pope is very dominant and could intervene worldly matters. However by means of the rise of Protestantism the economic matters such as property, commerce and exchange gained importance so the political and economic power of Pope reduced. After Reformation the idea of having national territories and mercantile system strengthened.
Renaissance also had a great impact on the rise of mercantilism because it leads humanism to occur. Before humanism main belief was that happiness can only be found in heaven and it should be preferred over the happiness in the world. However after the rise of humanism and individualism the economical aspects of life became important and feudalism began to lose power. In feudal system, agriculturist should work free on the fields of lords for a certain period and they cannot generate an income in these periods. Since the production depends on agriculture and there is no exchange economy, they could only work for these lords. These agriculturists are also the soldiers of lords in the war times. Because of the absence organized industries they worked to satisfy only local requirements.
However, domestic economies began to grow in time and became independent. These economies did not have an organization and there were only some attempts to make domestic regulations. When commerce gained importance and domestic economies enhanced, some problems of labor and distribution occurred, so the exchange economy began to emerge. The rise of exchange economy generated a strong basis for the rise and growth of mercantilism.
After the rise of mercantilism international trade became one of the most important parts of economic activities. This situation promoted the large-scale production and some trade regulation were needed. After these regulations were made international trade enhanced and these trade countries began to discover new islands and countries so the foundations of colonialism were laid.
Consequently, the rise and growth of mercantilism have some different factors. Political, cultural, religious and economic movements in Europe are very important in understanding the reasons of the rise and growth of mercantilism.