The proto-entrepreneur in the 16th and 17th centuries

This thesis explores the figure of the proto-entrepreneur during the 16th and 17th centuries, a transformative period preceding the Industrial Revolution. Proto-entrepreneurs are defined as early business figures who demonstrated entrepreneurial traits—risk-taking, innovation, and strategic resource allocation—within pre-industrial markets. By focusing on the Dutch Republic, England, and Venice, the study examines the socio-economic, political, and cultural conditions that fostered proto-entrepreneurial activity and the characteristics and strategies that defined these figures. Through a comparative analysis, it investigates why proto-entrepreneurship in the Dutch Republic and England evolved into modern capitalist enterprises, whereas Venetian proto-entrepreneurial efforts did not achieve similar outcomes. Key findings highlight the influence of decentralized governance, financial innovation, and Protestant cultural values in the Dutch and English cases, contrasted with Venice’s reliance on traditional industries and declining trade dominance. By integrating case studies and historical analysis, this research demonstrates the pivotal role of proto-entrepreneurs in shaping early market economies and their legacy in modern entrepreneurship. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how socio-economic and political dynamics determine the trajectories of economic transformation, offering insights into the roots of modern capitalism.