Beginning in the 1500s, European nations conquered most of Southeast Asia to set up _______. They built ports and cities to export the region’s ________ for their own benefit.

alliances
belief systems
natural resource resources
technologies
colonies

Beginning in the 1500s, European nations conquered most of Southeast Asia to set up colonies. They built ports and cities to export the region's natural resources for their own benefit.

colonies

fill in both blanks with the sentence

To answer this question, we need to understand the historical context and the events that took place during the 1500s. Here's how you can find the answer using research:

1. Start by searching for "European conquest of Southeast Asia in the 1500s." This will give you an overview of the historical period we are talking about.

2. Look for reliable sources such as history books, academic articles, or reputable websites that discuss the topic in detail. Encyclopedias like Britannica or academic databases like JSTOR can be useful for this purpose.

3. Read through the information you find to understand the main motivations and goals of European nations during this time. Pay attention to the regions they targeted and the resources they sought to exploit.

From the options provided, it is clear that the answer is "colonies" and "natural resources" based on historical accounts. European nations like Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and Britain established colonies in Southeast Asia primarily for economic purposes. They aimed to exploit the region's abundant natural resources, such as spices, timber, and minerals, which were highly valued in Europe. These colonies often served as trading posts, ports, and cities through which the European powers could export the region's resources back to their own countries for their benefit.