Answer:
C. England was able to begin building a huge empire and Spain's power declined.
Explanation:
During the 1500s, Spain was the uncontested leader of the world. It had enormous holdings in America, and was extremely rich due to the resources it obtained from these territories. However, as the century continued, England began to threaten this power. This was done through the work of smugglers and pirates, as well as open hostility from the Elizabethan government. Although Spain remained powerful, towards the end of the century its power began to decline, while England started to build its large empire.
