Steamship companies are businesses that operate ships powered by steam engines, primarily for transporting goods and passengers across oceans and rivers. These companies played a crucial role in the development of global trade in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as steamships were faster and more reliable than sailing vessels. Many famous steamship companies, such as Cunard Line and White Star Line, became well-known for their luxurious ocean liners. These companies contributed to the growth of tourism and immigration, connecting distant parts of the world and making travel more accessible to the general public.