The current Ferengi culture dates back some ten thousand years - it was at this time that Gint came to power. The first of the Ferengi world leaders - called the Grand Nagus - Gint codified a set of two hundred and eighty five 'Rules of Acquisition', a code of honour by which all Ferengi males are expected to live. The rules of acquisition heavily emphasise the accumulation of personal wealth, although some rules relate to general ethics. All Ferengi males are expected to memorise the rules at an early age.
Although they are capable of building powerful
warships, the Ferengi are not a major military
power in the alpha quadrant and rarely become
involved in open conflict except as arms suppliers - usually to both sides.
Nevertheless, there have been several skirmishes between the Federation
and the Ferengi - most notably in 2355 when a Ferengi vessel wrecked the
USS Stargazer. Open contact was established when the USS Enterprise-D encountered
a Ferengi Marauder class vessel which had stolen a power system from a
Federation outpost. Since this time relations have remained generally coordial,
although individual Ferengi have several times made raids on Federation
vessels. Little trade occurs between the Ferengi
and the Federation, as the latters ethical trading policies frequently
clash with Ferengi philosophy. The Ferengi
have remained neutral during the Dominion war.