Autorentext
Maarten Prak is Professor Emeritus of Social and Economic History at the Department of History and Art History, Utrecht University. He has published extensively on Dutch social and economic history, the Dutch Golden Age, and is an expert on European craft history. His recent publications include Citizens Without Nations: Urban Citizenship in Europe and the World, c. 10001789 (Cambridge, 2018) and the co-edited volume Apprenticeship in Early Modern Europe (Cambridge, 2019). Diane Webb has translated a wide range of literature in the fields of art history and history, including, most recently, Johan Huizinga's Autumntide of the Middle Ages.

Klappentext
Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer are still household names, even though they died over three hundred years ago. In their lifetimes they witnessed the extraordinary consolidation of the newly independent Dutch Republic and its emergence as one of the richest nations on earth. As one contemporary wrote in 1673: the Dutch were 'the envy of some, the fear of others, and the wonder of all their neighbours'. During the Dutch Golden Age, the arts blossomed and the country became a haven of religious tolerance. However, despite being self-proclaimed champions of freedom, the Dutch conquered communities in America, Africa and Asia and were heavily involved in both slavery and the slave trade on three continents. This substantially revised second edition of the leading textbook on the Dutch Republic includes a new chapter exploring slavery and its legacy, as well as a new chapter on language and literature.

Inhalt

Introduction: the Enigma of the Republic; I. War without End: 1. Turbulent beginnings; 2. A new country (1609-1650); 3. A world power (1650-1713); 4. The armed forces; II. Golden Age: Economy and Society: 5. A market economy; 6. Worldwide trading network; 7. Riches; 8. Toil and trouble; III. Unity and Discord: Politics and Governance: 9. Community; 10. The authorities; 11. A dissonant chorus; 12. Freedom against all odds; IV. An Urban Society: 13. The urban landscape; 14. A lettered land; 15. Religious pluralism; 16. A new approach to science and philosophy; 17. Paintings, paintings everywhere; Conclusion: the end of the golden age.