A Miracle Mirrored: The Dutch Republic in European Perspective

by Edited by Karel Davids , Jan Lucassen

• ISBN13: 9780521462471
• ISBN10: 0521462479
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-01-26
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In the celebrated words of Sir William Temple, the Dutch Republic of the United Provinces was 'the fear of some, the envy of others, and the wonder of all their neighbours'. This book looks at the history of the Dutch Republic from a comparative perspective, and provides the first comparative study of key issues in Dutch history from the late sixteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. Contributors examine political, cultural, economic, and social developments in the Netherlands in an interrelated way, and in doing so shed new light on historical developments in other parts of west and central Europe. In contrast with previous comparative studies in European early modern history, this book concentrates on comparisons within the central belt of Europe running from north Italy through southern Germany, Flanders, the Dutch Republic, and England. An editorial introduction and conclusion place the individual chapters within a coherent framework.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Karel Davids and Jan Lucassen

2. Similar problems, different outcomes: the Revolt of the Netherlands and the Wars of Religion in France Henk Van Nierop

3. The Dutch Republic: the urban impact upon politics Marjlein 't Hart

4. Rulers, patricians and burghers: the great and little traditions of urban revolt in the Low Countries Marc Boone and Maarten Prak

5. The political culture of Germany and the Dutch Republic: similar roots, different results Olaf Mö

rke

6. Britain and the Dutch Republic William Speck

7. Church, state and people Wiebe Bergsma

8. Literacy, trade and religion in the commercial centres of Europe Margaret Spufford

9. Art and commerce in the Dutch republic Michael North

10. Access to credit and capital in the commercial centres of Europe Peter Spufford

11. Shifts of technological leadership in early modern Europe Karel Davids

12. Labour and early modern economic development Jan Lucassen

13. Early modern economic growth and the standard of living: did labour profit from Holland's Golden Age? Leo Noordegraaf and Jan Luiten van Zanden

14. Conclusion Karel Davids and Jan Lucassen

Bibliography.