A naval history of global trade, policy and governance
Titos Ritsatos
Athenian Politician (Democrat) 5th century BC
Period of crisis, threat of existence due to Persian invasion
483 BC, new large deposit of silver located in Lavrion, worth over 100 talants per year
Opposition leader Aristides (Republican), proposed the wealth to be distributed to the people
Themistocles proposed the treasure to be used in order to build a fleet of 200 triremes
Using a primitive Public-Private Partnership form (TRIIRARCHIA), in order to manage optimal financing and maintenance
Athenians voted for his proposal Three years later, the new fleet saved
Athens the Greeks and the so called Western Civilization from the Persian yoke
Emperor of China, Ming Dynasty (1360 – 1424)
Made Beijing the new Capital Constructed the Forbidden City Reopened the Grand Canal (1000 klm
long) Issued the YONGLE Encyclopedia Commissioned sea voyages of Zheng He
Built a great fleet Established trade and influence from the
east coast of Africa to the Pacific Ocean Built the TREASURE SHIPS, nine musted
wooden vessels 400 ft long, the size of a 30.000 DWT Handy
Sailed over the Cape of Good Hope Made China an International Naval Power,
able to conquer known world
Chinese ruling classes thought of the Fleet as a threat to sustain power
Viewed everything coming from abroad as a poison to their culture
Entered into a recurring spiral of political and economical isolation
Finally, ordered the destruction of the Fleet CHINA LOST ITS MAIN COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE, THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE BY SEA AND TRADE
Today we live through a Global Economic Crisis
China reaches new “IMPERIUM” stage via its production capacity and productivity
We need a Global Economic Governance Pointing towards a new international
division of labor, …, where the Greeks may be called to be the global product distributors and facilitators…
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