Originally intended as Star Trek: The Next Generation's big bad, the Ferengi truly found their place in the canon during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Quark and Rom, and Rom's son Nog (Aron Eisenberg) turned the Ferengi from sleazy villains into a nuanced species of lovable rogues with room for improvement. Through Quark's family, DS9 was able to update Star Trek's Ferengi, while also tapping the capitalist species' comic potential, which was something that TNG had always avoided. In the Star Trek canon, Quark's family became hugely important in the course of Federation history, as they all played a role in enacting positive change for both Starfleet and Ferenginar.

9 Nog Was The First Ferengi In Starfleet

One of the earliest important changes to Star Trek history came when Nog applied to Starfleet Academy. The young Ferengi had seen that there was more to life than profit, and wanted to become a Starfleet officer. Nog's Starfleet journey saw him rise through the ranks and prove himself to be an exceptional officer. He endured the horrors of the Dominion War and was promoted to Lieutenant junior grade by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) in one of the legendary Captain's final acts before his disappearance. Star Trek: Discovery later revealed that Nog led the way for other Ferengi to Starfleet long into the 32nd century.

8 Quark And Sisko Made First With The Jem'Hadar And Vorta

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's season 2 finale, a camping trip went awry when Sisko and Quark were captured by the Jem'Hadar. Nog and Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) were able to raise the alarm, allowing the DS9 crew and the ill-fated USS Odyssey mounted a rescue mission. While imprisoned, Sisko and Quark were ed by Eris (Molly Hagan), a Vorta who tried to gain intel on Starfleet and the Federation by gaining the trust of the two visitors from DS9. Given how important this first meeting with the Jem'Hadar was to the future of Starfleet, it's interesting to note that Quark's presence will also be included in the story of the lead-up to the Dominion War.

7 Ishka And The Fight For Ferengi Gender Equality

Much to the horror of her son Quark, Ishka (Cecily Adams) was an ardent campaigner for gender equality. When Gene Roddenberry created the Ferengi, they were a misogynistic species that saw women as objects. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine began to push against this, first with Pel (Hélène Udy), who disguised herself as a male to help Quark negotiate with the Dosi. Later, Quark's mother forced through significant changes to how the Ferengi treated their women, leading to sweeping progressive reforms that allowed them to wear clothes and participate in commerce. Both Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy revealed that Ishka's legacy continued long into the 24th century.

6 Quark Became A Trade Envoy To DS9's Dominion

Due to his position as "community leader" aboard Deep Space Nine, Quark was a vital asset to Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn) in expanding Ferengi business interests into the Gamma Quadrant. In "Rules of Acquisition", Quark was tasked with opening trade negotiations with the Dosi. The Ferengi and the Dosi both placed a great deal of importance on business, but the Gamma Quadrant species were more brutal in their negotiation tactics. Quark and Pell's negotiations with the Dosi eventually led to a partnership with the Karemma, a species with ties to the Dominion.

The trade partnership with the Karemma was profitable for both sides until the Dominion War forced the Ferengi to impose higher taxes and fees. Star Trek: Lower Decks later revealed that Quark built a business empire off the back of stolen Karemma tech. When the Gamma Quadrant species returned to the Alpha Quadrant to restart trade negotiations, they discovered the Ferengi's deception. Thanks to the expert negotiation of Captain Freeman, Quark was able to keep his extensive business empire, as long as he gave the Karemma 76% of his profits.

5 Quark, Rom, And Nog Made First Before Star Trek's Vulcans

DS9 revealed that the Vulcans weren't the first of Star Trek's aliens to visit Earth. In the episode "Little Green Men", Quark, Rom, and Nog end up stranded in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. Quark had no respect for the Temporal Prime Directive, and saw a huge opportunity for profit in the more primitive Earth of the 20th century. Unfortunately, Quark got more than he bargained for when his business plan was scuppered by Cold War paranoia. It's thanks to a quick thinking Nog, and Quark's best frenemy, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) that the three Ferengi make it back to the 24th Century without featuring in an alien autopsy video.

4 Quark Saved The Alpha Quadrant During The Dominion War

Quark's moral ambiguity allowed him to play both sides of the Dominion War, making him a valuable asset to Captain Sisko, especially during the Dominion occupation of Deep Space Nine. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Behind the Lines", Quark uses all his charm to extract information about the plans to bring down the minefield that was holding back Dominion forces. Upon extracting this information, he provides the idea to the DS9 resistance movement to send a message to Captain Sisko. It's Quark's information, and the message that ultimately leads Sisko and Starfleet to lead Operation Return, recapturing Deep Space Nine and preventing the Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant.

3 Nog Made A Huge Sacrifice At The Siege Of AR-558

In one of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's best episodes, "The Siege of AR-558", Nog played a vital role in holding the planet against a Dominion onslaught. Thanks to his superior Ferengi hearing, Nog was able to pinpoint the location of advancing Jem'Hadar troops. This was integral to Starfleet's attempts to hold back the Dominion forces, due to the jamming of their tricorder scans. Tragically, Nog's heroic actions lost him a leg in the ensuing battle with the Jem'Hadar, and it was an injury that made him temporarily question his Starfleet career.

2 Grand Nagus Rom Made The Ferengi More Progressive

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 6, "Parth Ferengi's Heart Place" revealed the extent of Grand Nagus Rom's changes to Ferengi society. Zek chose Rom as his successor at the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Quark's brother's experiences on DS9 changed his view on how the Ferengi should pursue profit. Rom outlawed arms dealing, believing that hospitality and leisure ensured more profit in the long run. He also upheld his mother Ishka's gender reforms, negotiating Federation hip with his wife Leeta by his side as an equal partner.

1 The Ferengi The Federation - Thanks To Rom

The most historic act that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Ferengi family have been involved in is Ferenginar's application for Federation hip. Grand Nagus Rom made the decision to apply for hip to ensure additional protection from the attacks by Star Trek: Lower Decks' mystery enemy. After fierce negotiations with iral Vassery and Captain Freeman, Rom signed the contract with the Federation, a hugely historic moment. Ferenginar's Federation hip is a real tribute to how Armin Shimerman, Max Grodénchik, and Aron Eisenberg turned the Ferengi from failed villains into charismatic and lovable characters that are an integral part of the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.