This is the booklet for the Europe @ Home project, group 4.
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GROUP 4 E@H PRESENTS
The Golden Age was the time when it went very well with the
Netherlands. The Golden Age took place in the 17th century. The
time in which the Netherlands became one of the most important
countries on earth. It was also the time when it went well with the
Dutch trade and economy. In addition, the Golden Age is still known
for its science and art. The econo-my has a very important role in
the rise of the Republic in the 17th centur17th century. In the
Golden Age, the Republic became the center of world trade. In Asia,
Africa and in America the Re-public had some very protable
colonies. But the foundation of the wealth was based on the trade
in Europe. The ouris-hing trade led to a large and very wealthy
merchant class. The new prosperity also led to more attention and
sponsor-ship of visual arts, literature, science and special aid
for the poor. The Netherlands's transition from a possession of the
Holy Roman Empire in the 1590s to the foremost maritime and
economic power in the world has been called the "Dutch Miracle" by
historian K. W. Swart.
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was a chartered com-pany
established in 1602, when the States General of the Netherlands
granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out trade activities in
Asia. It is often considered to have been the rst multinational
corporation in the world and it was the rst company to issue stock.
It was a powerful company, posses-sing quasi-governmental powers,
including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts,
negotiate treaties, strike its own coins, and establish colonies.
As an addition to the VOC, the republic founded the WIC (West
Indian Com-pany) in 1621. The WIC Would sail via the west coast of
Africa to the east coast of America to negotiate . But the company
was primarily created to combat the Spaniards with privateering.
Piet Hein succeeded in overpowering a Spanish eet. This was a major
success factor for the Dutch shipping. Unfortunately the WIC did
get to fulll another function (Han-del in de Gouden Eeuw,
2013).
Handel in de Gouden Eeuw. (2013, February 21). Retrieved May 17,
2015, from isgeschiedenis.nl:
http://www.isgeschiedenis.nl/archiefstukken/han-del-in-de-gouden-eeuw/
