The Earth is not flat, it is round and can make the tour. There is no scary monsters or fiery dragons of fire beyond the known world, which can become a large market where gold, silver and spices make the happiness of bankers and merchants. For having been the first convinced, Europeans also became to the 16th century the first to conquer the world and to exploit the wealth.
At the time where it is shaped the first globalization, there is a little more than five hundred years, the Portugal, who was going to carve out an empire extending from the Brazil in the Moluccas (Indonesia), had that one million souls and its resources were limited. Venice, which had for the first time backed the borders of the known world and dominated the first "world economy" (1), were not more than 100 000 inhabitants at the height of its power. Antwerp, who would succeed him as economic centre, had little more. Weight pen to a China more populated by 100 million people and whose GDP, reconstructed by historians economists, represented about 25 of global GDP. But this China who considered himself as the center of the universe, first by its size and its population, which is inaccessible by its scientific and cultural, unassailable success by its spiritual and intellectual superiority, in fact lacked the essential, so it is true that in the history of what we call capitalism should be before all capitalists, men driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and the lure of gain. In 1481, the Venetian Marin Morosini wrote this letter which he sent his younger brother trading in the distant lands of the Levant: "Me, Marino Morosini, son of Domenico meser, recognize that Zuan Alvise Morosini, my brother, you have to go with the present nave of the muda of September Syria to reside in Syria." That God gives you a good trip, salvation and good gain. ""The salvation and the good gain": everything is said here to explain the rise of Europe at this time."
A time conducive to rapid capital rotation and the stimulation of market agility. But a time also for the business man, live, is to live dangerously, the risk is stating reality permanent. The risk of the arbitrariness of the prince who exposes him to the seizures and sudden theft. Risk of the transport of goods through a hostile nature. Risk of fierce competition between the men whose greed and selfishness us surprise, even in our time!
Of these businessmen who founded the "modern" economy, the firm of the Fugger of Augsburg is undoubtedly the most exemplary; Jacob, said the rich, since his death in 1525, the fact the richest man in the world. The first Fugger we know was the name of Hans. He lived, towards 1350, near Augsburg, in the village of Graben, cradle of the family, where he operated a small property and looked after weaving in winter, because the gain then offered this new activity. One of his sons, also named Hans, abandoned in 1367 the work of the fields to set as Weaver in Augsburg. The city, which had about 20,000 inhabitants and enjoyed great independence from the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire German, was the city of Europe more favourable to what we today call economic liberalism, trade is completely free for all those who wanted to indulge.
With a modest fortune of 22 pounds - a little less than the annual income of a clerk of the city-, Hans opened a small business yarn, wool and tissues. He died in 1409, his fortune was estimated to be 1 389 Hungarian guilders or three years of salary of the Director of a very large business of the time. The widow of Hans continued to manage the case assisted by his son André and Jacob. When she died in 1436, the family fortune exceeded 5,000 guilders. In 1454, André and Jacob shared the capital which was then 11 000 guilders. While Lucas, the son of André, made unfortunate Affairs which led to the collapse of this branch of the family, said Jacob "former" sued the company that had developed his father. He died in March 1469, he left a considerable fortune and his widow, Barbara, continued successfully the trade in wool, cotton, futaines, and silks, Midi fruit and spices.
Jacob, the youngest of eleven children, was born March 6, 1459. After staying in Venice to learn the technique of business, the Italian and accounting in double, little known part in Germany, he devoted to the task that he had given her family, develop business of the House in Italy and in particular in Venice. On several occasions through the Tyrol, the mining industry was booming, he persuaded his brothers of the profit potential offered by the trade of metals and launched this new industry. It is from the 15th and 16th century that copper demand explodes. Malleable, easy to pour, allying itself easily to other metals, very solid, it becomes the essential raw materials of a flourishing craft. Utensils and household kitchen, wall lamps and door handles, plates for roofing, bronzes for the architecture, alloy for currencies, nails, dowels and screws for ships, the hunger of copper serving also as ingots, export to India and the new world will make the fortune of Jacob.
Because operate mines, it is entering into relationship with the sovereigns who have the rights to subsoil resources and advance to those who are still penniless, in particular the Emperor, the capital whose repayment will pledge on the
300 would not have seen the light without the support of this premiumSix months later Neelie Kroes is revengeHe is ready to serve as a basis for public debate jA strong demand of the unions but not employers5 million its annual production capacity of screens plasma in 2008What is important is the order of magnitudeThe work is central in the SCOP value skills are paid to the market price370 billion yuan 1100 billion dollars of loansHowever this risk is more marked on SchneiderSince then the mark says not been dethroned
