Final answer:
The commenda investment system from the Commercial Revolution laid the groundwork for modern corporations by allowing the pooling of capital and the creation of more extensive business networks. Joint-stock companies evolved from this, enabling large-scale enterprise financing, with the ideology of capitalism as outlined by Adam Smith solidifying the corporate profit motive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aspect of the financial system created by the Commercial Revolution that most clearly paved the way for today’s corporations was the investment system known as commenda. This system allowed for the pooling of capital for commercial ventures, making it possible for investors to fund merchants and their trading enterprises. The establishment of such financial patronage led to the development of a more extensive business network, which is a cornerstone of the corporate model we recognize today.
Joint-stock companies, a direct evolutionary outcome of the commenda, were instrumental to the Commercial Revolution. These allowed investors to buy shares, effectively owning a portion of a company and its profits without being involved in its daily operations. This innovation enabled the accumulation and mobilization of large capital sums, crucial for financing large-scale enterprises, which became characteristic of modern corporations.
Moreover, the strengthening relationship between politics and finance, illustrated by merchant involvement in government, set a precedent that is still seen in today's corporate influence on economic policies. The concepts brought forth by Adam Smith around wealth creation and the functioning of the market greatly supported this corporate structure. His ideas on capitalism provided the ideological foundation that legitimizes the profit motive, critical to corporate growth and governance.