Answer:
A. monopolies of joint-stock companies
Step-by-step explanation:
Maritime empires refers to the type of empires that invested a lot of resources in their Navy. They heavily relied on ports control, goods distribution, and pathway tariffs as their main source of income.
Monopolies of joint-stock companies often pay the maritime empires handsomely for exclusive rights on one specific sea trade route. This will eliminate potential competitors to reach the same foreign market and increase the revenue of joint-stock companies.