By the mid-1500s, Europeans had obtained control from Arabs of much of the trade with Asia, whereupon Asian goods flooded the European markets. Gold and silver then came from the [[New World]], increasing European wealth further. | By the mid-1500s, Europeans had obtained control from Arabs of much of the trade with Asia, whereupon Asian goods flooded the European markets. Gold and silver then came from the [[New World]], increasing European wealth further. |