"We let it be known that as the prosperity of the United Netherlands is principally a result of our shipping trade and commerce that has undergone praiseworthy increases from time to time and that the
Netherlands have been involved therewith since the distant past, not only with neighbouring kingdoms
and regions, but also with those located further away than these, in Europe, Asia and Africa.
< Companies
Over the past decade several prominent merchants from the abovementioned countries commenced
praiseworthy shipping trade and commerce with the East Indies. These followers of the mercantile trade
and commerce in foreign lands have, at great cost, effort and difficulties, founded a company in the City
of Amsterdam, a commendable shipping enterprise trading in the East Indies. Shortly after that a
company was set up and this was found to be most worthwhile, a number of other merchants including
from Zeeland and from along the Meuse as well as from the Northquarter and West Friesland founded
similar companies and immediately joined the shipping trade and commerce mentioned above. [...] All of
the residents of these United Provinces shall be allowed to participate in this Company and to do so with
as little or as great an amount of money as they choose. Should it occur that there are more moneys
offered than are needed for the voyage, those who have more than 30,000 guilders in the Company will
have to decrease their capital pro rata in order to make place for others."
A Translation Of The Charter Of The Dutch Eastindies Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie Or Voc): Granted By The States
General Of The United Netherlands, 20 March 1602. Peter Reynders (translator), Australasian Hydrographic Society (2009),
page 1:11
This passage best illustrates which of the following historical processes?
A. the Protestant reformation and catholic counter-reformation B. The intellectual project known as enlightenment C. the formation of the modern nation-state D. The transition from feudalism you capitalism