The Research On Chartered Companies In England From The 16^th To 18^th Century

The time span from 16th to 18th century is one important period of England history. It is also one of the most important research realms of England history. England was not outstanding in industry, commerce and overseas trade and couldn’t keep up with French as well as Netherlands before 16th century. Why could England do well in these areas and become 1st modern nation as well as the important nation in world trade? There were many underlying reasons that need us to think about.In this article, I researched the England chartered companies,especially the chartered trading companies in order to explain their role in England social innovation and transformation. Chartered companies were one kind of commercial organizations under the policy of mercantilism. They were political and exclusive. Their quality developed from regulated company to joint-stock company. They tried their best to realize their commercial interests and became the main tool for carrying the policy of mercantilism.England was typical of the development in chartered companies. I chose Merchant Adventurers’Company, Russia Company, Levant Company and East India Company as research objects. Merchant Adventurers’Company was the largest regulated company. Russia Company was the first joint-stock company. Levant Company was important because of its intimate relation with East India Company, and the East India Company was the largest joint-stock company.I analyzed the constitution, the commercial activities and role of the four chartered companies. I tried to illustrate: chartered companies solved the problem of market, material for domestic industry. This drove the economic innovation of England. Chartered companies’merchants took part in politics and formulated policies for the commerce development. This helped the political innovation of England. The change of the idea of wealth and the functions of nation is the expression of the social innovation of England.