Creating Global Shipping : Aristotle Onassis, the Vagliano Brothers, and the Business of Shipping, c.1820–1970

Shipping has been a leading sector in European economic growth for centuries. Yet, it rarely features in business or economic history. This history of shipping in Greece, which centers on the Vagliano brothers and Aristotle Onassis, redresses this by making this invisible global business visible.

Shipping has been the international business par excellence in many national economies, one that preceded trends in other, more highly visible sectors of international economic activity. Nevertheless, in both business or economic history, shipping has remained relatively overlooked. That gap is filled by this exploration of the evolution of European shipping through the study of two Greek shipping firms. They provide a prime example of the regional European maritime businesses that evolved to serve Europe''s international trade and, eventually, the global economy. By the end of the twentieth century, Greeks owned more ships than any other nationality. The story of the Vagliano brothers traces the transformation of Greek shipping from local shipping and trading to international shipping and ship management, while the case of Aristotle Onassis reveals how international shipping was transformed into a global business.