The first share in history — and the birth of the stock market
In 1602, a Dutch company did something never seen before: it sold pieces of itself to anyone who wanted them. Thus shares and the world's first stock exchange were born.
In 1602, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) needed a lot of money for ships and risky expeditions to Asia. The solution was revolutionary: it sold shares — pieces of the company — to any citizen willing to invest and share the profits (and risks).
The birth of the exchange
So that people could buy and sell these shares among themselves, the world's first stock exchange appeared in Amsterdam. For the first time, anyone — not just kings and bankers — could own a piece of a business. It was an idea that changed the economy forever.
Shared risk, shared power
Shares democratized investment, but also brought bubbles and crashes. Understanding what a share, a profit and a risk are — without risking real money — is exactly the kind of financial education Kosron was designed for.
