Question for economic world history buffs

[IMALOYAL1]

Was the Dutch East India Company the richest most powerful IPO in the history of the world?

Any quality book that a laymen could read and understand on this company's world wide influence?

Is this the same company that traded in opium and slaves or anything that made money? Paid 18% annual dividend to its shareholders for almost 200 years? That's a good ROI.

Not many people visit "The Book Ends" but move this if it's in the wrong place.

 

[Tidewater]

I'm not familiar with a laymen's book on the DEIC, but a European colleague recently told me that the invention of copper wire was the result of a tug-of-war between two Dutchman over a penny. (The Dutch have a reputation for being shall we say, "frugal.")

On the other hand, another colleague responded that he can't stand two groups of people: "people who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."

 

[seebell]

Wasn't there a British East India Company too? I think it was the big daddy of trading companies. Google--east india company and the opium wars.

A short history of the company: ​http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/British_East_India_Company

 

[IMALOYAL1]

Wasn't there a British East India Company too?

Yes. I think they were competitors.

Could you imagine if the US or UN sent war ships to a country that refused to allow illegal drug trade?

 

[IMALOYAL1]

I think I've said it before, but while my dad was an avid reader of history, I have always leaned to fiction. The few history books I've read were quite entertaining and I've made a conscious decision to read more of them.

I need to visit my sisters house where some my dads books reside.

 

[MattinBama]

On the other hand, another colleague responded that he can't stand two groups of people: "people who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch."

Hmm. Now we know who you are, Austin Danger Powers.

 

[MattinBama]

I think I've said it before, but while my dad was an avid reader of history, I have always leaned to fiction. The few history books I've read were quite entertaining and I've made a conscious decision to read more of them.

I need to visit my sisters house where some my dads books reside.

You might find the Jeff Shaara books interesting (and books of a similar vein). They are written in a fiction format but are essentially history.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

They are written in a fiction format but are essentially history.

Most history books are written by those that prevailed in history, so some are probably leaning toward fiction.:smile:

 

[seebell]

Yes. I think they were competitors.

Could you imagine if the US or UN sent war ships to a country that refused to allow illegal drug trade?

Yep, those were the good ole days!

Perhaps we are seeing the return of trading oligarchs.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

Clark: [taken aback] Well, as a matter of fact, I won't, because Wood drastically underestimates the impact of —Will: ..."Wood drastically underestimates the impact of social distinctions predicated upon wealth, especially inherited wealth..." You got that from Vickers. "Work in Essex County," Page 98, right? Yeah I read that too. Were you gonna plagiarize the whole thing for us — you have any thoughts of — of your own on this matter?

(One of my favorite scenes from Good Will Hunting.)

Maybe I'll read some history, but it'll be world history as I wouldn't find most of those books entertaining at all.

 

[IMALOYAL1]

Perhaps we are seeing the return of trading oligarchs

This insinuates they went away?