What role did colonies play in the creation of mercantilism?

Mercantilism is intended to function as an economy by which a nation, such as England or Great Britain obtains colonies throughout the world.

Explanation:

Britain, in a mercantilistic economy, took raw materials and made them into finished products and then sold them back to the colonists

according to mercantilist theory colonies had one purpose to generate revenue for the mother country. these proved astonishingly lucrative when processed and sold on european markets and served as a major source of revenue. the aim of mercantilism was the creation of a positive balance of trade.