This book analyses the economic history of the company and entrepreneurship in Spain from the 15th century to the present. It evaluates the economic theory, the formation of the figure of the entrepreneur, as well as the structure of the companies. This exploration of the businessmen in Spain over several centuries is something that has not been done until now. Joining the great Spanish historiographical debate about the existence or not of entrepreneurship, the book brings together research in very different historical contexts and junctures. It presents a selection of cases of companies and entrepreneurs from Spain, from different sectors, regions and periods, from boom to crisis, from the wine businessman to the railway sector, from private banking to the pioneers of the Spanish travel agency business. It will be of interest to academics and students in economic history, business and management history, as well as researchers in entrepreneurship & small business management.

Autorentext
María Vázquez Fariñas (PhD in Social and Legal Sciences, University of Cádiz, Spain) is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Jaén (Spain). Her lines of research include Economic and Business History of Cádiz in the nineteenth century, the wine industry of the region and the development of commerce between the mid-nineteenth and mid-twentieth centuries.
**Mariano Castro Valdivia (PhD in Economics, University of Jaén, Spain) is a lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Jaén (Spain). His lines of research include Economic and business history of the Local Public Services in Spain, the teaching of Economics at the Spanish University and the dissemination of classical economic thought.
**Pedro Pablo Ortúñez Goicolea (PhD, University of Valladolid, 1999) is a Senior Lecturer in Economic History at the University of Valladolid (Spain). His research interests include the Spanish railway system and the public sector before nationalization of the railway; regulation and business history. He has published his research in books and specialized journals.

Inhalt

1. The historical evolution of the theory of the entrepreneur; Mariano Castro Valdivia. University of Jaen.- 2. How to do business in Castile: trade and financial companies (15th-16th centuries); David Carvajal. University of Valladolid.- 3. Simón Ruiz: a great entrepreneur in 16th-century Europe; Hilario Casado. University of Valladolid.- 4. Jakob Fugger, an early modern capitalist; Agustín González-Enciso. University of Navarre.- 5. Speculation and collusion in northern Castile in the mid-19th century; Rafael Barquín-Gil. UNED.- 6. Wine businessmen in Cadiz in the 19th century: Pedro Lacave Miramont; María Vázquez-Fariñas. University of Jaen.- 7. The commercialization of the Sociedad Azucarera Antequerana´s production (1890-1906); Mercedes Fernández-Paradas. University of Malaga Francisco José García-Ariza. University of Malaga.- 8. Private banking in the nineteenth century: merchants-bankers, banking houses and large national banks: the case of the province of Jaén (1800-1936); María José Vargas-Machuca. University of Jaen.- 9. Public services in Spain: the role of water supply companies; Juan Manuel Matés-Barco. University of Jaen.- 10. The railway sector in Spain in the long term; Pedro Pablo Ortúñez-Goicolea. University of Valladolid Miguel Muñoz Rubio. Spanish Railways Foundation.- 11. The pioneers of the Spanish travel agency business before mass tourism; Carlos Larrinaga. University of Granada.- 12. The path to success, the main explanations of the case of Mapfre; Leonardo Caruana de las Cagigas. University of Granada.- 13. Spanish businesses and the negotiations for Spain's entry into the European Economic Community; Jorge Lafuente del Cano. University of Valladolid.- 14. The automotive equipment and components industry of Castilla y León in the global automobile market: Lingotes Especiales group; Pablo Alonso. University of Valladolid Pedro Pablo Ortúñez-Goicolea. University of Valladolid.