With naval technology and naval warfare, the Europeans were prepared. In order to control commerce, the Portuguese created a "trading post empire." Asian traders and married Asian women outnumbered the Portuguese. Portugal, this small European country, raised "Asian states such as Japan, Burma, Mughal India, Persia" (Strayer, 674). Therefore these countries expanded due to the existence of Portugal. The first country to challenge Portugal's position was Spain. The Spanish established themselves on the Philippine Islands. This region was first discovered by the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan, who sailed on behalf of the Spanish Crown. At the end of the nineteenth century, the "United States assumed control following the Spanish-American War of 1898" (Strayer, 675). Male Spanish priests displaced women who played major roles as healers, midwives, and ritual specialists. By 1600, Manila, Philippines became a city with a population of 40,000 inhabitants. This city also attracted 3,000 Japanese and over 20,000 Chinese.