Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of Figures; Preface; Acknowledgements; Timeline; 1 Introduction; 2 Dutch Identity and the Influence of Landscape; 3 Netherlands' Trade and Commerce; 4 Dutch Bookkeeping and the Hanseatic Influence; 5 The Dutch East-India Company; 6 Accounting for Capital; 7 The VOC's General Bookkeeping: Contradictions and Conflict; 8 Conclusion; Bibliography; Index
Summary
The United Dutch East India Company was the first public company, preceding the formation of the English East-India Company by over 40 years. Its fame as the first public company which heralded the transition from feudalism to modern capitalism and its remarkable financial success for nearly two centuries ensure its importance in the history of capitalism. Although a publicly owned, highly complex and diversified business, and commonly agreed to be the largest and most profitable business in the 17th century, throughout its existence the Dutch East-India Company never produced pu
