Persia/Netherlands: 'The Dutch Ambassador (Joan Cunaeus) on his Way to Isfahan'. Oil on canvas painting by Jan Baptist Weenix (1621-1660), c. 1653-1659. The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties and establish colonies.

Persia/Netherlands: 'The Dutch Ambassador (Joan Cunaeus) on his Way to Isfahan'. Oil on canvas painting by Jan Baptist Weenix (1621-1660), c. 1653-1659.  The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties and establish colonies. Stock Photo
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Contributor:

CPA Media Pte Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo

Image ID:

2B01514

File size:

50.5 MB (2 MB Compressed download)

Releases:

Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?

Dimensions:

4286 x 4119 px | 36.3 x 34.9 cm | 14.3 x 13.7 inches | 300dpi

Date taken:

25 April 2011

More information:

This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.

The Dutch East India Company, or VOC, was a chartered company granted a monopoly by the Dutch government to carry out colonial activities in Asia. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock. It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, coin money and establish colonies. The VOC was set up in 1602 to gain a foothold in the East Indies (Indonesia) for the Dutch in the lucrative spice trade, which until that point was dominated by the Portuguese. It also traded with India and established ports, factories and warehouses there. Between 1602 and 1796, the VOC sent almost a million Europeans to work in the Asia trade on 4, 785 ships, and netted more than 2.5 million tons of Asian trade goods.