During the 1600s, how could an ordinary person invest in a large trading expedition without funding the entire trip?

By bartering goods directly with the ship's captain upon his return.

By purchasing shares, or stock, in a joint-stock company.

By personally asking the king or queen for a small loan.

By working on the ship in exchange for a portion of the cargo.

A merchant in the 1600s wished to finance a risky but potentially profitable voyage to the Americas. If he could not afford the entire cost himself, what was a common solution from that era?

To form a joint-stock company and sell shares to other investors.

To request a personal loan directly from the king or queen of his country.

To capture a foreign ship and use it for his own expedition.

To abandon the overseas voyage and focus on local farming instead.

Joint-stock companies were only permitted to trade for spices and silk.

A single merchant kept all profits but also shouldered all the financial risk alone.

Only single merchants were allowed to use the services of government-chartered banks.

Joint-stock companies were exempt from paying any taxes on their imported goods.

Governments had banned individuals from participating in overseas trade.

There was a severe shortage of sailors willing to work on long voyages.

Overseas trade expeditions were extremely expensive and financially risky for one person.

Existing banks refused to lend money for any type of business venture.