European Trade Companies

European trade companies, active from the 16th to 18th centuries, were powerful merchants and financiers established by European nations to promote trade and explore overseas markets. They operated as chartered corporations with exclusive rights to trade in specific regions, like the Dutch East India Company or the British East India Company. These companies facilitated the exchange of goods such as spices, textiles, and precious metals, while also engaging in diplomacy and military activities. Their operations significantly boosted international commerce and contributed to European expansion, colonization, and the development of global trade networks.