Ferengi history
Ferengi history was the history of the Ferengi from the planet Ferenginar, whose development can be described with its 10th Rule of Acquisition: "Greed is eternal". ()

Early history

Ferengi history reached back at least ten thousand years, which was the time span needed to establish the Ferengi Alliance, the governing body of the Ferengi, by the 24th century. () There was a time, however, when the Ferengi's acquiring nature was not so pronounced and was less adversarial - a time, in fact, when the Ferengi were not greedy but were extremely generous. ()

Compared to Human history, the Ferengi developed many features of a modern economy earlier, already having currency, banking, speculative investments, and a unified global economy by around 2700 BC. An important event of early Ferengi history was the creation of the Rules of Acquisition by the first Grand Nagus, Gint. ()

While the Rules of Acquisition enshrined fundamental principles of Ferengi society, such as greed and materialism, Ferengi history avoided atrocities such as slavery, concentration camps, and interstellar wars. However, their social evolution created a society that was far from being liberal, with an extremely misogynistic attitude that denied females their most fundamental rights. () Furthermore, violence was not a complete stranger to Ferengi society, as evidenced by the Battle of Prexnak, during which all ten involved Ferengi were slaughtered by 273 attacking Lytasians. () Moreover, Smeet became the only Grand Nagus ever to be assassinated while in office after a dramatic drop in the Ferengi Market Exchange during his reign. ()

At some point in the distant past, Ferengi and Dopterians diverged from each other. (; )

20th century

A temporal incident known on Earth as Roswell Incident caused the unofficial first contact between three Ferengi from the future and Humans of the mid-20th century. The Ferengi's shuttle had accidentally performed a time warp en route to Earth and crashed on the planet in the year 1947. The United States of America, one of the Human nation-states of that era, treated the visitors with suspicion and would keep this incident a secret after the Ferengi managed to re-acquire their shuttle and return to their own time. ()

22nd century
By the mid-22nd century, the Ferengi had purchased warp drive technology and, by 2150, begun using it to expand their commercial interests in the galaxy. Even at this point, however, the Ferengi were a mysterious race who were often only known through rumor. (; ; )

By 2150, the Ferengi had visited Valakis, the homeworld of the Menk and the Valakians, the latter of which sought help to fight a medical crisis on their homeworld. As of 2151, Ferengi had encountered Bolians, but T'Pol of the Vulcan High Command was unfamiliar with the name "Ferengi." ()

In 2151, Starfleet had its first, unofficial encounter with the Ferengi. This initial encounter took place when four Ferengi marauders boarded  after rendering its crew unconscious using a "Trojan Horse" device. The pirates attempted to plunder the starship of items they believed held value, but their plans were ultimately foiled by the Enterprise crew and the Ferengi's own greed. With Enterprise back under Starfleet control, the pirates, who never disclosed their species or allegiance, were allowed to leave with a warning not to plunder any more ships in the area. ()

24th century
Around the mid-24th century, the Great Monetary Collapse occurred on Ferenginar. It was described as "rampant inflation and currency devaluation that were burning like wildfires through the lush financial foliage of Ferenginar". ()

Contact with the Federation

Battle of Maxia
In 2355, while Captain Jean-Luc Picard was in command of the , Starfleet had another encounter with the Ferengi, although the latter's identity would not be realized until nine years later. While traveling through the Maxia Zeta system, the USS Stargazers shields were damaged by an unidentified starship – a Ferengi vessel commanded by the son of a DaiMon named Bok. This forced Captain Picard to perform a maneuver in which the Stargazer jumped into high warp, making it appear to the attackers that the ship was in two places at once. This tactic was so highly regarded by Starfleet that it was given the designation "the Picard Maneuver". During the ensuing confusion, the Stargazer was able to destroy the enemy vessel, but the damage to the Stargazer was substantial and the crew were forced to abandon the ship. ()

Delphi Ardu system

By 2364, the United Federation of Planets was aware of the Ferengi, but had yet to make official first contact. For this reason, Federation scholars had to rely on rumors and hearsay, likening the Ferengi to "Yankee traders", American sailors of the 18th and 19th centuries who traveled Earth's oceans "in search of mercantile and territorial opportunity." Official first contact between the Federation and the Ferengi eventually occurred in 2364 in the Delphi Ardu system, where a Ferengi vessel and the  were trapped in orbit by a derelict outpost of the ancient Tkon Empire. The ship had originally stolen a Federation-owned T-9 energy converter from Gamma Tauri IV and the Enterprise was sent in pursuit. Despite some hostilities, the situation could be resolved peacefully and the Ferengi returned the converter. ()

Post-first contact
Upon first official contact with the Ferengi, Starfleet personnel observed the species to speak broken English, often gasping and hissing, and moving in a cat-like "slinking" manner. Within the space of two years, however, the Ferengi had adapted to Federation mannerisms and later encounters had the Ferengi speaking perfect English and moving as a normal Human would. A carry-over which was common among all Ferengi is to call Humans by the name "Hew-mons" instead of the correct pronunciation. (; ) 

In general, Ferengi values were fundamentally incompatible with those of the Federation and a few aggressive incursions against Starfleet occurred over the years following 2364. In most cases these were provoked by overambitious DaiMons, e.g., Bractor, Nunk, and Prak, who acted without sanction by the Ferengi Alliance and who did not shy away from aggressive moves against the Federation in their pursuits for profit or, in Bok's case, personal revenge for the death of his son back in 2355. (; )

Despite such incursions, both sides maintained sufficient relations for Ferengi representatives to participate in Federation-hosted events, e.g., the negotiations for the Barzan wormhole and the biennial Trade Agreements Conference on Betazed in 2366, or for Starfleet ships to answer Ferengi distress calls. ()

Contact with the Borg
The Borg designation for the Ferengi was "Species 180".  Under the Borg species designations, this number was lower than most Delta Quadrant races in the Borg's native space.  The Borg had assimilated Ferengi prior to 2275, including at least one individual known as DaiMon Torrot. ()

Developments under Grand Nagus Zek

Business ventures in the Gamma Quadrant

A few months after the re-discovery of the Bajoran wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant in early 2369, Grand Nagus Zek convened a conference at Quark's Bar on Deep Space 9 in order to discuss how the Ferengi Alliance could exploit the wormhole. He pointed out that their reputation had suffered in the Alpha Quadrant, but in the Gamma Quadrant the Ferengis' word would still be trusted. Surprisingly, Zek declined to lead the new venture himself due to his advanced age and instead appointed Quark as the new Nagus. However, this move turned out to be but a ploy to reveal that Zek's son was unsuited as a successor, which prompted him to remain in office. ()

Contact with the Dosi
Soon after this, Zek made contact with a species from the Gamma Quadrant, the Dosi. In early 2370, he invited them to Deep Space 9 for a business meeting in order to discuss the purchase of large quantities of tulaberry wine. Although he claimed this to be the "greatest deal in Ferengi history" as it would help the Ferengi Alliance to get a foot in the Gamma Quadrant, Zek's plans reached beyond that. As Zek's chief negotiator, Quark was able to purchase ten thousand vats of wine, only to be subsequently dispatched to the Dosi homeworld in order to procure ten times that quantity. By artificially exaggerating the demanded volume, Zek accomplished his goal of making the Dosi refer the Ferengi to an even more powerful business partner in the Gamma Quadrant, the Karemma. They were described as an important member of something called the Dominion, thereby making the Ferengi the first Alpha Quadrant power to have ever learned of its existence. ()

32nd century
In 3190, the Ferengi sent delegates to the Multilateral DMA Strategy Assembly. ()

Timeline
At least ten thousand years ago: The establishment of the Ferengi Alliance begins.
1947: Roswell Incident – On July , a Ferengi shuttle from the 24th century crashes in Roswell, Earth. Humans make first contact with the Ferengi. The event is buried by the United States of America.
2150: By this year, the Ferengi have purchased warp technology and visited Valakis, whose pre-warp inhabitants are in desperate need of medical assistance. 
2151: Ferengi marauders are unsuccessful in an attempt to loot the Earth Starfleet ship , however, without disclosing their allegiance or species.
Mid-24th century: Great Monetary Collapse – Rampant inflation and currency devaluation occurs on Ferenginar.
2355: Battle of Maxia – The  encounters a Ferengi ship commanded by Bok's son leading to a violent confrontation.
2364: Official first contact between the Federation and Ferengi occurs in the Delphi Ardu star system.  Later that year, Bok unsuccessfully tries to take revenge against Starfleet Cpt. Picard for the death of his son. Prior to this date, the Ferengi make contact with the Bandi. 
2366: The Ferengi unsuccessfully bid for the exclusive rights to the Barzan wormhole. Later that year, they participate in the biennial Trade Agreements Conference on Betazed.
2369: The Bajoran wormhole is discovered. Grand Nagus Zek sees vast profit to be made in the uncharted Gamma Quadrant.
2370: Via the Dosi, Zek manages to get into contact with the Karemma. They are said to be a powerful member of the "Dominion", thereby making the Ferengi Alliance the first Alpha Quadrant power to learn of this Gamma Quadrant superpower.
2373: Ishka secretly becomes Grand Nagus Zek's lover and advisor. Ferengi Commerce Authority (FCA) Liquidator Brunt later fails at an attempt to oust Zek and install himself as new Nagus.
2374: Brunt briefly becomes Nagus after Zek, under advice from Ishka, amends the Ferengi Bill of Opportunities to allow Ferengi females to wear clothing. Zek is soon reinstated after the FCA changes its mind and, later that year, the Board of Liquidators considers allowing females to earn profit. 
2375: Rom succeeds Zek as Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance and ushers in an era of reform that includes the codification of rights for females.
3190: The Ferengi send delegates to the Multilateral DMA Strategy Assembly.

Appendices

See also
Interstellar history
Federation history
Human history

Background information
The Borg identified the Ferengi as Species 180 – the fourth-lowest, canon Borg designation. Interestingly, the three lower designations, as well as the next higher number, species 218 (Talaxians), were all species from the Delta Quadrant. Other than the Ferengi, the lowest Alpha/Beta Quadrant species designation by the Borg that was ever given on screen is 3259 (Vulcans). ()

Some fans of Star Trek were (at least initially) disgruntled about the Ferengi being encountered by Starfleet as early as the 22nd century in , as the earlier-produced  seemed to involve the first contact between the two groups occurring later. Mike Sussman characterized the encounter in "Acquisition" as "probably one of the more controversial choices" in ENT Season 1. Responding to the fan complaints, Brannon Braga stated, "The crew [of Enterprise] never finds out what this species is called. We may even deal with that as we go along. But I think the [upset fans] perceived it as a 'screw you." Sussman concurred, "I think we structured the show in a way that preserves Picard's first contact with [the Ferengi] [....] Besides, every  fan knows Earth's real first contact with the Ferengi was in Roswell in 1947!" ()

Quark actor Armin Shimerman commented, "What I found really interesting [....] was that it was the Ferengi who made the first contact with the major power in the Gamma Quadrant. It was the Ferengi who discovered the Dominion, which I think is wonderful." ()

External link

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