The Royal Exchange, located in the heart of london, was founded in the 16th century. Its founder, Thomas Gresham, was a merchant whose father suggested the idea of founding a cente rof commerce for London. It was Britan's first specialist commercial building. The purpose of the Royal Exhance was to be a forum for the transactions of London merchants and traders. It was a very important of tradeduring the height of the British empire. 

In his article titled, "The Royal Exchange", Joseph Addison describes his feelings as a frequent visitor of the royal exchange. He writes, "sometimes I am justled among a body of Armenians: sometimes I am lost in a crowd of Jews; and sometimes make one in a group of Dutchmen. I am a Dane, Swede, or Frenchman at different times; or rather fancy myself like the old philosopher, who upon being asked what countryman he was, replied, that he was a citizen of the world." This description is just a small testament of the Royal Exchange's role in the early stages of globalizaiton.