Identify the technological and economic innovations that facilitated the Commercial Revolution.
A. Navigational technology, joint-stock companies, banks, and insurance companies.
B. Mercantilism, joint-stock companies, banks, and insurance companies.
C. Navigational technology, joint-stock companies, banks and loans.
D. Navigational technology, joint-stock companies, banks, and exploitation.
The correct answer is A. Navigational technology, joint-stock companies, banks, and insurance companies.
Navigational technology, such as improved ship designs and navigational instruments like the astrolabe and compass, allowed for more efficient and safer long-distance sea voyages, which were crucial for expanding trade during the Commercial Revolution.
Joint-stock companies, such as the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company, facilitated the pooling of resources and investment from multiple individuals to fund expensive and risky overseas ventures. These companies played a significant role in expanding European trade networks and establishing colonies in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
Banks and insurance companies also played crucial roles in facilitating the Commercial Revolution. Banks provided a secure mechanism for individuals and companies to store and transfer money, while insurance companies provided coverage against the risks associated with long-distance trade, such as shipwrecks, piracy, and other calamities.
Mercantilism, mentioned in option B, is an economic theory commonly associated with the Commercial Revolution. However, since it is not a technological or economic innovation itself, but rather an economic doctrine, it is not the correct answer.