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Dutch Primacy in World Trade 1585-1740
The Dutch Republic, despite its small size and population, functioned as the hub of world trade, shipping, and finance for over a century following the fall of Antwerp in 1585. This is the first general account of Dutch world-trade hegemony in all its aspects from its origins as a depot for "bulk-carrying" in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries down to its collapse during the course of the eighteenth.
462 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Jonathan I. Israel
56 books159 followersJonathan Irvine Israel is a British writer on Dutch history, the Age of Enlightenment and European Jews. Israel was appointed as Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, in January 2001. He was previously Professor of Dutch History and Institutions at the University of London.
In recent years, Israel has focused his attention on a multi-volume history of the Age of Enlightenment. He contrasts two camps. The "radical Enlightenment" founded on a rationalist materialism first articulated by Spinoza. Standing in opposition was a "moderate Enlightenment" which he sees as profoundly weakened by its belief in God. In Israel’s highly controversial interpretation, the radical Enlightenment is the main source of the modern idea of freedom. He contends that the moderate Enlightenment, including Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, made no real contribution to the campaign against superstition and ignorance.
In recent years, Israel has focused his attention on a multi-volume history of the Age of Enlightenment. He contrasts two camps. The "radical Enlightenment" founded on a rationalist materialism first articulated by Spinoza. Standing in opposition was a "moderate Enlightenment" which he sees as profoundly weakened by its belief in God. In Israel’s highly controversial interpretation, the radical Enlightenment is the main source of the modern idea of freedom. He contends that the moderate Enlightenment, including Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, made no real contribution to the campaign against superstition and ignorance.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 11, 2022
Goed onderbouwd overzichtswerk over de Nederlandse economie in de 17e eeuw, een absolute aanrader. Ik ben het niet altijd met Israel eens, maar de 4,5 sterren rond ik af naar 5, want ik heb hierdoor veel nieuwe ideeën en inspiratie gekregen.
November 6, 2024
A fantastic narrative of the Dutch hegemony in world commerce. A few notes of caution:
Do not take it as a book on the Dutch economy in a strict sense. Israel notes the Dutch achievements in agriculture and especially industry, but only insofar as it relates to trade, shipping, and finance (as these sectors of the economy were complementary in some ways). It's just not focused on the more domestic-oriented sectors. If you want to understand the transformations of the domestic economy, you would only find glimpses of it here.
Israel also discusses the numerous trade wars and actual shooting wars driven by mercantilist impulses, as well as the Dutch War of Independence against Spain at the start. But again, it's mainly to discuss the relations between military and commercial power. It's not a politically-oriented text.
Do not take it as a book on the Dutch economy in a strict sense. Israel notes the Dutch achievements in agriculture and especially industry, but only insofar as it relates to trade, shipping, and finance (as these sectors of the economy were complementary in some ways). It's just not focused on the more domestic-oriented sectors. If you want to understand the transformations of the domestic economy, you would only find glimpses of it here.
Israel also discusses the numerous trade wars and actual shooting wars driven by mercantilist impulses, as well as the Dutch War of Independence against Spain at the start. But again, it's mainly to discuss the relations between military and commercial power. It's not a politically-oriented text.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews