Which statement identifies a way that an important component of the Portuguese Empire changed over time?(1 point)

The Portuguese government attempted to put less of a focus on the social caste system.

The slave trade eventually stopped, as it was no longer profitable for
Portugal.

The Portuguese were no longer the strongest military power by the
nineteenth century.

The Portuguese gained territory in Asia by the nineteenth century.

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To identify the statement that identifies a way that an important component of the Portuguese Empire changed over time, we need to analyze each statement and assess if it reflects a change in the empire.

1. "The Portuguese government attempted to put less of a focus on the social caste system": This statement suggests a potential change in the social structure of the Portuguese Empire as the government tried to reduce the emphasis on the social caste system. However, it does not explicitly state whether this change actually occurred or had a significant impact.

2. "The slave trade eventually stopped, as it was no longer profitable for Portugal": This statement implies that the slave trade, an important component of the Portuguese Empire, underwent a change and eventually ended due to a lack of profitability. This statement identifies a significant change in the empire.

3. "The Portuguese were no longer the strongest military power by the nineteenth century": This statement refers to a decline in the military power of the Portuguese Empire. While it indicates a change, it does not specifically identify an important component of the empire that changed.

4. "The Portuguese gained territory in Asia by the nineteenth century": This statement states that the Portuguese Empire expanded its territory in Asia, suggesting a change in its territorial control. This identifies a change but does not explicitly mention an important component of the empire.

Based on the analysis, the statement that best identifies a way that an important component of the Portuguese Empire changed over time is: "The slave trade eventually stopped, as it was no longer profitable for Portugal."

The Portuguese language became more widely spoken in their colonies.