Ch. 13 – European State Consolidation in the 17th & 18th Centuries

1. Ch. 13 – European State Consolidation in the 17th & 18th Centuries Group: Eenid Herrera, Adrian Lugo, Aaron Hocker, and Dalton Ledsinger

2. 1572 United provinces of Netherlands emerged as nation after a revolt against Spain Dutch engaged in series of naval wars with England 1672 Louis 14th invaded Netherlands Prince William 3rd of Orange Son of William the Silent Hereditary chief executive, stadtholder, of Holland Rallied Dutch Led European coalition against France Pt. of strategy Answered invitation of Protestant English aristocrats to English throne 1688 The Netherlands: Golden Age Decline

3. During 17th & 18th Century • Political and economical life differed from the rest of Europe • Other major nations pursued paths toward: • Strong central gov. • Monarchies • Strong parliamentary system • Netherlands formally a republic • Ea. Province retained considerable: • Authority • Central gov. • Embodied by state general • Whom met in the Hague • Holland dominated the States General • Dutch distrusted monarchy & House of Orange • Yet when military challenges came into play, they permitted House or Orange’s William 3rd to assume dominant leadership.

4. These political arrangements proved highly resilient and allowed the republic to establish itself permanently in Europe’s state system. • 17th century • William died in 1702 • Wars w/ France ended in 1714 • Dutch reverted to their republican structures • Calvinist Reformed Church became official church • Rest of European States either attempted to impose one religion or tore themselves apart.

5. Dutch republic amazed 17th century contemporaries, because: Toleration of religious life Economic prosperity Built on foundations of: High urban consolidation Transformed agriculture Extensive trade & finance Overseas commercial empire In Netherlands: More people lived in cities During 17th century: Dutch Drained and reclaimed land from sea Used for profitable farming Shipping provided a steady supply of cheap grain. Framers could produce more: profitable dairy products Beef Cultivate cash products Urban Prosperity

6. Dutch: • Fishermen dominated the market • Supplied textiles • Ships appeared in harbors all over the continent • Captains purchased new goods and sold at other nations • Overseas trade: • Supported a vast shipbuilding & ship supply industry • Most advanced financial system of the day • Supported trade • Commerce • Manufacturing • Prosperity was a seaborne empire • Established a major presence in E. Asia: • Particularly in spice producing areas of: • Java • The Moluccas • Sri Lanka • Vehicle of this penetration was the Dutch E. Indies Comp. • Company: • Displaced Portuguese dominance in the spice-trade of E. Asia • Prevented English traders from establishing a major presence there.

7. Economic Decline • 18th century was the starting line in the decline of political influence of the United Provinces of Netherlands • Death of William 3rd prevented emergence of another stadtholder. • Naval supremacy was passed down to the British. • Fishing industry declined. • Trade became more direct between countries. • Stagnation overtook Dutch industries. • Disunity was the impulse of the economic decline of the Dutch. • Dutch maintain financial dominance.

8. Two Models of European Political Development • Venice and Swiss cantons were republic governed. • Two models became known as: • Parliamentary monarchy and political absolutism. • Exemplary countries: • England & France