Cosmopolitan Businessman: World and Worldview of Greek Merchant-Entrepreneurs

Ariadni Moutafidou's book explores the history of the Greek mercantile diaspora in the 19th century, examining entrepreneurial networks and the activities of distinguished personalities and merchant-entrepreneurs. It compares different historical times, regions, and ethnic groups, investigating the relations between ethnic mercantile communities and exploring themes of internationalization, competition, and cooperation. The book is an important contribution to the study of economic, social, and cultural history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 330 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2021
Publisher: Nova Science Publishers Inc

Ariadni Moutafidou, a renowned historian with a deep fascination for the history of Greece in modern times, has unveiled her latest work, "The Cosmopolitan Businessman." In this captivating book, Moutafidou delves into the captivating history of the Greek mercantile diaspora during its heyday in the 19th century. Through extensive research, she explores the intricate entrepreneurial networks that transcended geographical boundaries, linking cultures, ideologies, and mentalities with economic practices and business performance. Moutafidou's investigation takes her into the lives of distinguished personalities and prominent Greek merchant-entrepreneurs, shedding light on their activities, ideas, and assessments of their own businesses and their competitors. Among the many captivating figures featured in the book are Vikelas, the inaugural President of the International Olympic Committee, alongside the Melas, Mavros, and Basileiou families, Malta-based broker Pappaffy, an influential businessman in the British and Mediterranean economic realms, and a celebrated philanthropist. Moutafidou meticulously examines a wide range of sources, including memoirs, literature, archives, commercial trade books, the press, as well as family records and references made by rival businessmen. She compares various historical periods, regions, and ethnic groups, drawing insightful parallels and distinctions with the Greek case. In this process, she delves into the complex relations between distinct ethnic mercantile communities, utilizing the Greek case as a focal point and comparing it to the paradigms of leading Jewish merchant-bankers in both the West and East, such as the Bischoffsheims, Oppenheims, or Camondos. Moutafidou's approach is both comprehensive and innovative, allowing her to unravel the themes of internationalization, competition, cooperation, risk, and innovation. Through her meticulous research and insightful analysis, "The Cosmopolitan Businessman" offers a fresh perspective on the history of the Greek mercantile diaspora and its profound impact on the global economy and society.

ISBN-13: 9781536191875