One Minute Potted History of Commerce: From Silk Road to Silicon Valley

One Minute Potted History of Commerce

© Copyright Helen Cousins, Xcel Business Solutions Sept 2012

From Silk Road to Silicon Valley

by

Helen Cousins

2September 2012

Building a Business in the Digital Age

People, not technology, build businesses. Nothing will change that.

3September 2012

Maslov’s Hierarchy of Needs Adapted by Helen

Physiological

Safety

Love

Trade

Self Esteem

Self ActualisationMorality, creativity…

TRADE:My addition to

Maslov’s Hierarchy

4September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Stone Age trade• Hints of long range commerce

• By boat 15,000 years ago • Cave paintings / tools

Stone Age trade• Hints of long range commerce

• By boat 15,000 years ago • Cave paintings / tools

5September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Silk Road• China to Mediterranean

• Goods travelled by camel• 200 BC to 1400 AD

• Ended by Black Death

Silk Road• China to Mediterranean

• Goods travelled by camel• 200 BC to 1400 AD

• Ended by Black Death

6September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Medieval Trade• Da Gama – East• Columbus –West• Dutch – Australia

Medieval Trade• Da Gama – East• Columbus –West• Dutch – Australia

7September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Corporate Trade• Corporations

• East India Company• Limited Liability c 1800

Corporate Trade• Corporations

• East India Company• Limited Liability c 1800

8September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Internet • Roots in US military 1950’s

• First email in 1971 (40 yrs ago)• www began 1991 (20yrs ago)

Internet • Roots in US military 1950’s

• First email in 1971 (40 yrs ago)• www began 1991 (20yrs ago)

9September 2012

Stone Age => Silk Road => Silicon Valley

Beyond eCommerce• Web 3.0?

Beyond eCommerce• Web 3.0?

10September 2012

It’s complicated…

Business needs to work. Technology can’t fix broken business models. Technology is not complicated.

It’s people that make it seem complicated.Make it simple.