History summary 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1 and keywords
2.1 Baltic routes
Amsterdam became the centre of world trade in the 17 th century because of 3 changes:
1. Land in NL became unsuitable for grain we let cattle graze and make (expensive) cheese and
milk instead. We import grain from the Baltic countries = Baltic routes. Profits from trade
became the main focus of the economy = merchant capitalism.
2.1 Staple market
2. Dutch merchants trade wood and grain in the Baltic (against salt, herring, cheese and rope),
store it in Amsterdam and sell it later in Europe = staple market. They make so much money
through this trade that it is called the mother of all trades. Because of this trade, crafts and
industry grow as well shipbuilding, rope and sail making improves. The Dutch even make a
new ship, the Fluyt, with as small deck so they don’t have to pay a lot of toll.
2.1 Antwerp 1585
3. Antwerp used to be the biggest part of the Netherlands. Trade routes from Asia, the Baltics and
the Mediterranean. Sea came here. In 1585 it is conquered by the Spaniard. People from
Zeeland and Holland blocked the access to the rives Scheldt: nobody could get in Antwerp.
Merchants from Antwerp now fled to Holland and Zeeland to continue trading.
2.1 The VOC
In the 16th century spices were very expensive, so merchants in Zeeland and Holland wanted to get their
own from the Indies. The risks were high, so groups of merchants divided the costs and the profit by
joining a compagnie.
To avoid competition (and get protection from the Portuguese) the VOC (Dutch East India company)
started in 1602. Anyone in the Republic could invest money by buying shares ( a piece of the company).
2.1 The VOC 2.0
The VOC had a trade monopoly: they were the only Dutch company who could trade with the Indies.
The VOC could:
1. Build forts
2. Conclude treaties (= make trade agreements)
3. Fight wars: the VOC fought against other countries buy also if their trade partners sold their
products to other countries.
2.1 The WIC
The Dutch wanted to trade with West Africa and America as well, so they set up the WIC in 1621. The
WIC had a monopoly, but they also had other activities: privateering (taking over ships from other
countries.) The WIC had large colonies, where slaves from West Africa grew cane sugar and tobacco.
, 2.1 Plantation Slavery
The WIC trade between West Africa, Europe and America called the triangular trade.
- From Europe to America: weapons and clothing.
- From Africa to America: Slaves, because the local population in America died.
- From America to Europe: cane sugar and tobacco.
In 300 years, 12 million slaves were brought to America (5% from the WIC)
2.3 The Republic
In the 17th century the Dutch Republic was unique in Europe:
1. No king, but instead regents from rich merchant families chose the government.
2. No central government, but regional councils instead, who come together in states-general.
Similarity: governing was men’s business.
2.3 No Stadholder
Remember: regents (and the States-General) usually want peace and trade.
Stadholder = army commander
The stadholder Willem II died in 1650, so the states-general, led by Grand Pensionary de Witt, chose not
to have a stadholder. Now they decide about war, peace and the army. They decide not to spend money
on the army (but still on the fleet though.)
2.3 1672 the Year of Disasters
ENG wanted to take our trade at sea, and FR wanted more land both (and two German cities)
attacked us in 1672 (= the year of disasters)
Michiel de Ruyter beat the English at sea, but the army lost and needed a commander: they appointed
William III as stadholder.
Johan de Witt was blamed for 1672 and murdered. The power of the Republic ended around 1700.
2.4 Absolutism
Most EU countries were monarchies. Kings wanted to increase their power through a central
administration: power in one place. Then they can make the other cities and nobles pay taxes. The
French king Louis XIV had absolute power: absolutism. He was named the Sun King. Louis XIV took
(almost) all the decisions about laws and taxes, was the boss of ministers and was the highest judge.
2.5 Louis XIV
Louis kept his power by:
1. Give administration job to civil servants instead of nobles. Nobles have to live in Versailles.
2. Improve the economy to pay his army, civil servants and palace.
3. Droit divine: the divine right to rule. So everybody needed the same religion: Catholicism.
2.1 Baltic routes
Amsterdam became the centre of world trade in the 17 th century because of 3 changes:
1. Land in NL became unsuitable for grain we let cattle graze and make (expensive) cheese and
milk instead. We import grain from the Baltic countries = Baltic routes. Profits from trade
became the main focus of the economy = merchant capitalism.
2.1 Staple market
2. Dutch merchants trade wood and grain in the Baltic (against salt, herring, cheese and rope),
store it in Amsterdam and sell it later in Europe = staple market. They make so much money
through this trade that it is called the mother of all trades. Because of this trade, crafts and
industry grow as well shipbuilding, rope and sail making improves. The Dutch even make a
new ship, the Fluyt, with as small deck so they don’t have to pay a lot of toll.
2.1 Antwerp 1585
3. Antwerp used to be the biggest part of the Netherlands. Trade routes from Asia, the Baltics and
the Mediterranean. Sea came here. In 1585 it is conquered by the Spaniard. People from
Zeeland and Holland blocked the access to the rives Scheldt: nobody could get in Antwerp.
Merchants from Antwerp now fled to Holland and Zeeland to continue trading.
2.1 The VOC
In the 16th century spices were very expensive, so merchants in Zeeland and Holland wanted to get their
own from the Indies. The risks were high, so groups of merchants divided the costs and the profit by
joining a compagnie.
To avoid competition (and get protection from the Portuguese) the VOC (Dutch East India company)
started in 1602. Anyone in the Republic could invest money by buying shares ( a piece of the company).
2.1 The VOC 2.0
The VOC had a trade monopoly: they were the only Dutch company who could trade with the Indies.
The VOC could:
1. Build forts
2. Conclude treaties (= make trade agreements)
3. Fight wars: the VOC fought against other countries buy also if their trade partners sold their
products to other countries.
2.1 The WIC
The Dutch wanted to trade with West Africa and America as well, so they set up the WIC in 1621. The
WIC had a monopoly, but they also had other activities: privateering (taking over ships from other
countries.) The WIC had large colonies, where slaves from West Africa grew cane sugar and tobacco.
, 2.1 Plantation Slavery
The WIC trade between West Africa, Europe and America called the triangular trade.
- From Europe to America: weapons and clothing.
- From Africa to America: Slaves, because the local population in America died.
- From America to Europe: cane sugar and tobacco.
In 300 years, 12 million slaves were brought to America (5% from the WIC)
2.3 The Republic
In the 17th century the Dutch Republic was unique in Europe:
1. No king, but instead regents from rich merchant families chose the government.
2. No central government, but regional councils instead, who come together in states-general.
Similarity: governing was men’s business.
2.3 No Stadholder
Remember: regents (and the States-General) usually want peace and trade.
Stadholder = army commander
The stadholder Willem II died in 1650, so the states-general, led by Grand Pensionary de Witt, chose not
to have a stadholder. Now they decide about war, peace and the army. They decide not to spend money
on the army (but still on the fleet though.)
2.3 1672 the Year of Disasters
ENG wanted to take our trade at sea, and FR wanted more land both (and two German cities)
attacked us in 1672 (= the year of disasters)
Michiel de Ruyter beat the English at sea, but the army lost and needed a commander: they appointed
William III as stadholder.
Johan de Witt was blamed for 1672 and murdered. The power of the Republic ended around 1700.
2.4 Absolutism
Most EU countries were monarchies. Kings wanted to increase their power through a central
administration: power in one place. Then they can make the other cities and nobles pay taxes. The
French king Louis XIV had absolute power: absolutism. He was named the Sun King. Louis XIV took
(almost) all the decisions about laws and taxes, was the boss of ministers and was the highest judge.
2.5 Louis XIV
Louis kept his power by:
1. Give administration job to civil servants instead of nobles. Nobles have to live in Versailles.
2. Improve the economy to pay his army, civil servants and palace.
3. Droit divine: the divine right to rule. So everybody needed the same religion: Catholicism.
