Acknowledgments

I am deeply indebted to the editors of international collections at ­Business Expert Press (BEP) for their supportive encouragement along with their valued guidance and suggestions. Professor Gary Knight of Willamette University early on recognized my possible pro-business prejudice as a career senior executive before joining the academic ranks and gently prodded me to present a balanced portrayal of commercial history and its influence on civilization. His input in constructing the Second ­Edition of the book is deeply appreciated. Professor Michael Czinkota of ­Georgetown University kindly advised me to put a human face on historic examples to better illustrate the influence of business organizations and their sometime partnership with government and religious institutions, as well as their products and services on the social environment. Tamer Cavusgil of the University of Georgia, even before my association with BEP, encouraged me to put down on paper my ideas on ­international business subjects and I am forever thankful for his friendship and continuing supportive guidance.