Raw materials and cheap labor for their industries
Because Philip II of Spain wanted a standing Army, he found it necessary to raise taxes.
He found major difficulties in raising the taxes, however. Eventually, he did go bankrupt but that's not before he taxed all the local resources available.
One advantage of being an unskilled worker in Egypt is becoming a slave. Being a slave would have been an easier task than building the pyramids.
Gold countries can make the best use of resources by buying gold
