1505: High Council commissions a four-ship exploratory expedition to Floresque, aided with Floresque sea-charts and maps. Despite losing about half of its crew by the time it returned a year later, the trading and selling of McMasterdonian and Floresque goods, generated a large return.
1506-1519: News of this expedition entices Bustian merchants to send their own fleets to Floresque and back. Even as some fleets were lost, many successfully returned. Their success begin to cut out McMasterdonian and Floresque middlemen in the Grand Duchy, increasing the returns of their expeditions.
1520: The Grand Duchy expands its influence beyond the Kianese Empire by exploring new trade routes, seeking out new resources and new civilizations, to boldly go where no Bustian has gone before.
1522: Grand Duke forms Bustos Eastern Shipping (BES), a charted company to control the supply vs demand to ensure profitability of expeditions to far away lands. This new company unites several Bustian merchants, many of which were financially backed by members of the High Council, under one banner. Giving them the power to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, and establish colonies.
Bustos Eastern Shipping becomes the first multinational corporation in Eras and first company to issue stock to the public.
1523-1540: Permanent Bustian trading posts established along various trade routes. During this time, small Bustian shipping/trading companies either become bankrupt or are bought out by BES, creating a monopoly on foreign trade.
BES also begins to carry Bustian diplomats and begin to represent Bustian interests abroad.
Minor wars and skirmishes occur along trade routes with indigenous peoples to secure strategic ports.
1540-1600: BES invests into ship building, arms manufacturing, farms, factories, banking, and related infrastructure at home and abroad. Grand Duke allows BES to hire its navy and marines for escort and garrison duties along trade routes.
McMasterdonia sees Grand Duchy's wealth, imposes higher taxes as the price for allowing BES to continue to operate under the Kianese Empire. Often calls upon large portions of the Grand Duchy's navy and marines to fight in the name of the Empire.
1600-1700: Some BES trading posts form pseudo-colonies. Taking advantage of local climate and population to produce various items for the Grand Duchy.
Timeline in progress regarding the BES...