Boring History for Sleep Boring History For Sleep | How Three Cities Designed the Modern World šš”
Dec 6, 2025
Explore how three pivotal cities shaped modern civilization! From Amsterdam's revolutionary spice trade and the birth of the stock market to Londonās ambitious rebuild after the Great Fire, each location crafted a blueprint for urbanism and finance. Uncover the technological innovations in shipbuilding and planning that defined their eras, as well as the socio-economic dynamics that fueled their growth. Discover how these cities influenced the world, laying foundations still relevant today!
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Ten Merchants On Dam Square
- Ten merchants in Dam Square pooled capital in 1594 to sail to the East Indies themselves.
- Cornelis de Houtman's disastrous first voyage still returned with spices and critical route intelligence.
The VOC Created Tradable Shares
- The VOC created permanent tradable shares, separating ownership from individual voyages.
- That liquidity and scale enabled long-term projects and is the ancestor of modern stock markets.
Sawmills And Fluyts Powered Dominance
- Dutch wind-powered sawmills and standardized fluyt ships slashed shipbuilding costs and crew needs.
- Industrial and technological advantage underpinned Amsterdam's lasting maritime dominance.