> The genesis of the joint-stock company is usually traced to the founding of the English East India Company and the Dutch East India Company around 1600

What? "The earliest records of joint-stock companies appear in China during the Tang and Song dynasties" [1].

The East India bit was invented by modern activists. Even the Muscovy Company pre-dates it in England [2].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint-stock_company#Early_join...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovy_Company