The earliest proto-corporations or "trusts" were:

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Churches, towns, and universities were some of the earliest institutions that resemble proto-corporations or trusts. They acted as communal organizations, pooling resources and making decisions for the greater good. These institutions were usually formed for religious, political, or educational purposes, rather than for profit. Trading companies, slave-trading outfits, and oil companies developed much later in history.

The Earliest Proto-Corporations or "Trusts" Were