- To tap into the lucrative markets of the East,
- Acquire exotic goods such as spices, silk, and precious metals.
2. Economic advantages:
- Companies would pool resources and mitigate the risks associated with long and dangerous voyages.
3. Political Influence:
- Joint-stock companies allowed rulers to control and regulate trade, ensuring that they gained a share of the profits.
4. Centralized control:
- Companies provided a framework for European rulers to exert control over their overseas territories and commercial interests.
5. Reduced competition:
- By encouraging the formation of companies, rulers could consolidate trade and reduce competition among individual merchants.