Factory (trading post)

A trading post ( or factorie factorerie French, English factory, Italian fattoria Factoría Spanish, Portuguese Feitoria ), in the colonial period was the trading post of merchants in Europe or overseas.

Tasks of Faktoristen

Its director, factor or Faktorist called, was there as a representative of his employer ( principal's ) or the relevant Trading Company contact for all affairs, gave reports and information to the head on and was for goods logistics ( storage, and / or further transport ) responsible. Since information until days or weeks later arrived from the head office, this was an absolute trust in the medieval trading houses such as those of the Fugger and Welser.

Importance of the factories and their distribution

Factories were established particularly in Asia, Africa and America and provided for the exchange of goods between European trading companies and the local population. To this end, they possessed most large warehouse for incoming and goods to be exported. Similar branches already had in the 13th and 15th century, the Hanseatic League in the Baltic and North Sea countries; the expression Faktorei but was in use until the 16th century. The Hanseatic entertained factories including England (Boston, King's Lynn ), Norway ( Tønsberg ) and Finland ( Åbo ).

In the 19th century factories just arrived in Africa, in the southern part of Asia, the East Indies, in Canton (China until 1842), in Nagasaki (Japan, 1609 to 1858 by the Dutch trading post ) and in the North America ( for example, the factories before Hudsonbaigesellschaft with military equipment and forts ). From such a scale by powerful trading companies factories, which gradually stretched over larger areas, colonies are repeatedly emerged.

In the mining sector there were also mountain factories.

• Factor Faktorei or Faktorist are not to be confused with invoice, invoicing and billing clerk.