Description
The Dutch are 'the envy of some, the fear of others, and the wonder of all their neighbours'. So wrote the English ambassador to the Dutch Republic, Sir William Temple, in 1673. Maarten Prak offers a lively and innovative history of the Dutch Golden Age, charting its political, social, economic and cultural history through chapters that range from the introduction of the tulip to the experiences of immigrants and Jews in Dutch society, the paintings of Vermeer and Rembrandt, and the ideas of Spinoza. He places the Dutch 'miracle' in a European context, examining the Golden Age both as the product of its own past and as the harbinger of a more modern, industrialised and enlightened society. A fascinating and accessible study, this 2005 book will prove invaluable reading to anyone interested in Dutch history.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Chronology; Introduction: the enigma of the Republic; 1. A turbulent beginning; Part I. War Without End: 2. An independent state (1609–50); 3. A world power (1650–1713); 4. The armed forces; 5. Financial might; Part II. Golden Age: Economy and Society: 6. A market economy; 7. A world-wide trading network; 8. Riches; 9. Toil and trouble; Part III. Unity and Discord: Politics and Governance: 10. Community; 11. The authorities; 12. A dissonant chorus; Part IV. An Urban Society: 13. Religious pluralism; 14. A new approach to science and philosophy; 15. The Dutch school of painting; 16. The urban landscape; Conclusion: the end of the Golden Age; Further reading; Index.
