Question

How did mercantilism increase the likelihood of conflicts between European powers?

Answer 1

Competition over wealth and resources--under the theory of mercantilism it was believed there was a limited amount of wealth in the world and power was given to the country that held the most wealth.

 Power and wealth are connected under the mercantilism theory. If there is only so much wealth in the world and a country must hold the most wealth to have the most power, then countries would be willing to fight each other for wealth. During the late 15th and early 15th centuries, this theory drove European countries to create colonies and trade connections with Asian Empires. In doing this they believed they were gaining power through the wealth of land and resources.

Answer 2

The main way in which mercantilism increased the likelihood of conflicts between European powers was that it led to dispute over who could trade where, and disputes over the trade agreements themselves, since every country wanted the "best deal".