Part 4/8:
The Dutch Golden Age and the Birth of Capitalism
On a spring morning in 1594, a gathering of enterprising merchants in Amsterdam sparked a revolution. They envisioned a way to launch expeditions that would encroach upon Portuguese territories in South Asia. Bound by ambition, they established trading companies and laid the foundations for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), which later emerged as a formidable economic entity.
By the early 17th century, a wave of wealth flooded into Amsterdam. As the city flourished, its stock exchange was instituted—the world's first—facilitating an innovative model where shares were issued to many investors, democratizing the concept of ownership. This bold move marked a significant moment in capitalistic history.