Electronic Commerce

10

Yr.

Ms. D. Cuschieri

Some say commerce has its origin in pre-historic times around 150,000
years ago when people started bartering goods with each other. The
introduction of money assisted further the trade of merchandises and
services.

The development of global trade

The rise of European maritime empires such as Portugal, Spain, the
Netherlands and the UK and the foundation of multinational trading
companies in the 16th and 17th centuries guided the development of
global trade. In the 19th and 20th centuries, steamships, railroad and
aviation hastened the transport of goods between nations worldwide.
The era following World War II was characterised by the encouragement of
free trade and the elimination of trade barriers.

The development of modern commerce

1 http://www.eurocommerce.be/commerce-in-europe/history-of-commerce.aspx
http://www.iccwbo.org/about-icc/history/

Electronic Commerce
10

Yr.

Ms. D. Cuschieri

While shopping in the 18th and 19th centuries was mainly characterized
by weekly markets and small shops, commerce endured a fundamental
change in the 20th century.
Until the 1950s, food retail mostly took place in small corner shops that
were situated close to their customers. Starting in the 1950s, retailers
opened supermarkets with larger sales areas and where self-service was
the basic principle. At the same time, discount stores emerged on the
market offering mostly own-brand products at a lower price than other
brands.
In the 1960s, hypermarkets with even larger sales areas and often
situated outside the city centres appeared in Europe. The first
hypermarket was opened in Belgium and the concept soon spread across
Europe. Hypermarkets are characterised by a big product range and
competitive pricing. Besides food, they also offer house ware, electronic
consumer goods, car accessories and gardening supplies.

The development of e-commerce

The introduction of the internet and smart phones has given commerce a
remarkable advance in recent years.
While mail order and teleshopping had already existed for many
years, online and mobile shopping offer consumers a much more suitable
way of shopping by allowing them to easiy compare products and prices
and by making cross-border purchases in a safe technological
environment.

The merchants of peace

In 1919, a number of entrepreneurs decided to create an organization that
would represent business everywhere.
The group of industrialists, financiers and traders were determined to
bring economic wealth to a world that was still stumbling from the
destruction of World War I. They founded the International Chamber of
Commerce and called themselves "the merchants of peace".

2 http://www.eurocommerce.be/commerce-in-europe/history-of-commerce.aspx
http://www.iccwbo.org/about-icc/history/

Electronic Commerce
10

Yr.

Ms. D. Cuschieri

The world had very few working international structures in the aftermath
of the first of the 20th century's global conflicts. There was no world
system of rules to direct trade, investment, finance or commercial
relations. Although they did not know it at the time, the pioneers were
creating an organization that would become vital to the global economy.
Over the years, ICC has taken a central role in international trade and
business. It creates international rules, mechanisms and standards that
are used every day throughout an enormously more intricate world than
that of 1919.
This organisation that started with a few businessmen from five countries
has stretched to become a world business organization with hundreds of
thousands of member companies in more than 120 countries. Members
include many of the world's biggest multinationals as well as small and
medium sized companies.
To meet the needs of its members,
ICC has expanded its activities
over the years. ICC Commercial
Crime Services, based in London,
was originated in the 1980s to
tackle all aspects of commercial
crime. The World Chambers
Federation provides a centre for
chambers of commerce throughout
the world.

3 http://www.eurocommerce.be/commerce-in-europe/history-of-commerce.aspx
http://www.iccwbo.org/about-icc/history/