Who is credited with coining the term 'Seven Sisters' for a group of major oil companies?

Who is credited with coining the term 'Seven Sisters' for a group of major oil companies?

• A. Enrico Mattei
• B. John D. Rockefeller
• C. Jay Rockefeller
• D. Henry Ford

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is who first gave the famous label to the dominant oil giants. Enrico Mattei, the Italian engineer and founder of ENI, coined the term "Sette Sorelle" (Seven Sisters) to describe the seven major oil companies that controlled much of the world’s oil supply in the mid-20th century. He used the phrase to highlight how a small group of firms held significant leverage over operations, pricing, and access to resources, a point he made while advocating for greater national control and independence in oil resources. The expression was soon translated into English as Seven Sisters and came to symbolize the cluster of Western majors—companies like BP, Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, and Gulf Oil—whose influence shaped global oil politics.

The idea being tested is who first gave the famous label to the dominant oil giants. Enrico Mattei, the Italian engineer and founder of ENI, coined the term "Sette Sorelle" (Seven Sisters) to describe the seven major oil companies that controlled much of the world’s oil supply in the mid-20th century. He used the phrase to highlight how a small group of firms held significant leverage over operations, pricing, and access to resources, a point he made while advocating for greater national control and independence in oil resources. The expression was soon translated into English as Seven Sisters and came to symbolize the cluster of Western majors—companies like BP, Shell, Exxon, Mobil, Chevron, Texaco, and Gulf Oil—whose influence shaped global oil politics.