Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600-1900 Free Audiobook Download by Stephen R. Bown

The ancient world saw the rise of new-age companies that became a powerful force in driving technological and societal advancements. In this groundbreaking book, historian Stephen Bown examines how the concept of the public company has evolved from a purely commercial idea to serve as an agent of change for society. From its inception in 1602, The East India Company was created to make profits for investors, but by 1720 it had become not only a major trading power but also an imperial state with quasi-royal powers.

Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600-1900 is an audiobook by Stephen Bown, which tells the story of how companies were repositories of power during the early modern period. The book illustrates how these companies operated on a global scale, and how they helped shape society throughout this time.

This is a fascinating look into the merchant kings, who controlled the world during what has been called the "Age of Commerce". Stephen R. Bown provides an abundance of information and offers excellent insights into how businesses operated in this era.

Stephen R. Bown's book, Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1650-1900, is a fascinating look at how vital commerce was to early nations and how the stories of businesses and their owners are an important part of the history of early modern Europe. Although Bown covers a large period of time and many different countries, he keeps the story focused on England and France where he focuses on key individuals in business such as John Jacob Astor and John D. Rockefeller. The audiobook version is narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner who does an excellent job of turning events that could get confusing into understandable narratives that keep listeners engaged throughout the book.

In the years prior to the Industrial Revolution, companies ruled. When companies ruled the world, it meant that they could make money by trading goods on their own and they could control their own employees, building materials, transportation and trade routes in order to maximize profits. Merchants Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600-1900 is a great history book about how this changed during the Industrial Revolution.

Stephen Bown takes readers on a journey from the beginnings of modern commerce and the first companies to rise from medieval guilds, up through the early 1800's when many companies became huge and powerful empires. As they grew and spread, companies were sometimes like nations themselves with their own armies and navies, tax collecting agencies, educational systems, banks, hospitals, prisons, language academies (especially in Spain), scientific laboratories and research centers.