What was the first IPO in history?

The first IPO (Initial Public Offering) in history was held in 1602, when the Dutch East India Company (VOC) issued shares on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. At the time, VOC was one of the world's leading maritime trading companies, and its share issue allowed ordinary investors to buy a share of the company's profits. The issue of VOC shares was an important milestone in the history of capitalism and the financial market, as it allowed the mobilization of capital on a large scale and paved the way for the development of other commercial companies with shares traded on the exchange. Since then, the IPO has become a common way of raising capital for companies looking to expand their business.