To date, the research of the legal historical aspects of the evolution of business activities and the influence of state on it has been scarcely explored. This paper analyses examples of medieval forms of business, in particular maritime types in the Adriatic area and developed without special influence of the public authorities, but by trade usage. In the Croatian inland regions however, the influence of the sovereign as the bearer of public authority on the development of economy is illustrated by the Golden Bull of 1242 and the founding of the free royal city of Gradec. The Statute of Rijeka of 1530 contains even more provisions evidencing the tendency of the local authorities to quick judicial resolving of disputes between merchants and shippers for the sake of the safety of business. A new initiative for commerce growth, particularly maritime, occurred during the 18th century when the freedom of navigation in the Adriatic Sea was proclaimed, and Rijeka and Trieste became "porto franco". The sovereigns initiated a series of administrative and economic reforms followed by the formation of companies, rudimental joint stock companies involved in different activities and rise of individual merchants. At the beginning of the 19th century, business companies were incrementally specialising, which was supported by activities of the chamber of commerce, modern education institutions, merchandise exhibitions and the like. Economic progress was interrupted by the World War I and perennial international disputes concerning the border between Italy and the Kingdom of SHS, most notably in regard to the port and railroad, which caused an economic decline.
