CH1 sec. 1.2.2 The first multinationals: VOC and WIC

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 2

Memo h/m 2 TTO

CH1. The age of regents and rulers

The Golden Age

sec. 1.2.2 The first multinationals: VOC and WIC

Learning objectives

3) I can explain why Dutch merchants were interested in the spice trade.

4) I can explain why the VOC and WIC were established.

5) I can name two characteristics of the VOC and WIC.

I know the terms and dates from this section.

A world economy

Sixteenth century

Voyages of discovery by Spain and Portugal.

• Spice trade
• Spread of Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
• Expanding political power

VOC

Around 1600 the demand for spices grew. Merchants from Holland and Zeeland wanted to benefit from the spice trade.

1595 First Compagnie that succesfully trades in Asia ('voorcompagnie'). 

VOC

1602 VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) set up.

Companies decided to collaborate.

• Avoid competition among themselves
• Better protection against the Portuguese.

1. Many people in Holland and Zeeland invested money in the company and shared in its profits. The VOC was one of the first multinationals.
2. Special privileges

VOC

The VOC was given special privileges by the States-General.

• Trade monopoly in the East Indies on spices, tea, silk, etc.
• Construct forts
• Fight wars
  
• Sign treaties

Batavia was the most important trading post.

The VOC would use violence to enforce the trade monopoly and to get the best price for products. The VOC was very succesful.

What was the reason why Dutch merchants wanted to join the spice trade around 1600?

1. More people wanted to buy spices.
2. Spices became cheaper.

What doesn't match the VOC?

1. Set up in 1621
2. Spices, silk and tea
3. Trade monopoly
4. East Indies (Asia)

WIC

WIC (West-Indische Compagnie) founded in 1621

• Trade monopoly on slave trade and luxury products like tobacco, sugar, cocoa and coffee in America and Africa.
• Trading posts in West Africa and colonies with plantations in America (Surinam en de Dutch Antilles)
• Privateering (piracy)
• Triangular trade

The WIC was less succesful than the VOC. 

What doesn't match the WIC?

1. Set up in 1621
2. Slaves, sugar and tobacco
3. Trade monopoly
4. East Indies (Asia)

What are the two main characteristics of the VOC and WIC?

1. Ordinary people can share in its profits by buying shares
2. Privateering
3. Special privileges
4. Trade in Asia

Learning objectives

3) I can explain why Dutch merchants were interested in the spice trade.

4) I can explain why the VOC and WIC were established.

5) I can name two characteristics of the VOC and WIC.

I know the terms and dates from this section.

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.