We are all from one place or another and being familiar with the place we are from gives us a bias. The bias is good, for example where my parents are from the memories of the roads, the hills (particularly in the fall), the farms and some of the people who lived there give a bias. Although there is an effort to understand parts of the world, my bias is generally within the area I grew up in, this is why books such as Black Sea written by Neal Ascherson published by Vantage Press, London UK, 2007 help fill in the large gaps. The Black Sea is the sea between south-eastern Area and western Asia. Countries of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria and several smaller countries from the breakup of the USSR including Georgia border the sea. It terms of Russia from the ice-free Black Sea the navy can go to the Mediterranean Sea. The Black Sea is an very important connection from Asia to Europe which means for thousands of years people have been trading or exchanging goods. The Ukraine is known as the bread basket of Europe for the ability to grow wheat and for thousands of years Europe has eaten its grains. The Greeks were running out of food in their area and went north and discovered the steppes and grain growing areas. The Greeks originally followed the fish and there was plenty of fish to eat. The Romans had influence in the area as well as the Italians through the merchants of Venice. The Black Sea is the end of the great Silk Roads where goods moved from China to Europe,  at the Black Seas they were transported to Europe on ships. (when the Suez Canal opened the goods moved by ship). From the plains or steppes came the Mongols who controlled the region for a time. In addition to the mix is all the religions including Christian and Moslem which exist – people have conquered regions only to lose them back and regain them. There are a great many stories which can be found around the Black Sea.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, reading about the Black Sea and the history of the people who lived around this sea stories about changes to political structure happen usually caused by wars. The rulers change over time – some better, some worse which means towns and cities changed over time. For the worst ones, surviving was the biggest challenge; for the better ones – peace allows for opportunities. As a dividend investor, part of you outlook is for the long-term and when peace exists it is easier to invest and you can enjoy the prosperity.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions.