The Portuguese Empire of Commerce, had economic weaknesses in terms of goods not being in demand and a lack of wealth to buy with cash. However, the empire had military strengths and gained authority to take goods. The empire also established trading posts in Mombasa, Hormuz, Goa, Malacca, and Macao and created a pass system called _cartaz_ to create a monopoly. They assimilated into Asian trade by carrying Asian goods to Asian ports, but were too large and too poor to make a long-term impact.