Dutch East India Company: The World’s First Multinational

The Dutch East India Company, The World’s First Multinational Corporation - Charles River Editors [epub]

To many, the mention of maritime merchants evokes an imagery of growling pirates donned in their stereotypical hats and a colorful parrot perched upon their shoulders. Though that imagery may be inaccurate, the real life companies that once dominated international waters operated on a similar thirst for conquest and riches.

Perhaps the most famous – or as many would put it, infamous – of these naval corporations was the Dutch East India Company, also known as VOC. Established around the beginning of the 17th century, this nautical behemoth of a corporation was determined to squeeze everyone else out of the market. Vested with the power to wage war and exterminate any who dared stand in their way, the rest of the world stood by as the unstoppable force took over the whole of international maritime trade. The company would crush its opponents on the way to the top, establishing a monopoly on the global spice trade that would not only rock the world but forever change the course of modern business history. 

This book examines how the rabid consumer craving of a particular spice jumpstarted the legendary corporation, and how the Dutch East India Company rose to prominence through a brutal mix of financial acumen, merciless violence, and highly controversial business tactics. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the Dutch East India Company like never before, in no time at all.

Print Length: 56 pages
Publisher: Charles River Editors (November 16, 2016)