The Dutch Trading Empire

3 Reasons:

• Religious tolerance
• Value added trade
• Not interested in occupation and conquest

Religious Tolerance

• The Inquisition in Spain (1492) and Portugal (1540) caused Jews to flee.
• The Netherlands also welcomed Protestants, who came from Northern Europe.
• New immigrants were skilled, educated, and experienced.

Value Added Trade

• Civet cats
• Diamonds
• Textiles
• Spices

Capitalism + Force

• Tolerant at home, but intolerant abroad
• Motive: profit, not religious conversion
• Method: control trade routes, not territory
• Wealth---> Strong military

Creation of the East India Company

• Established in 1602 by Dutch merchants
• A joint-stock company with sovereign powers
• Could conduct diplomacy, sign treaties, form alliances, maintain troops, and make war.

The Dutch "Golden Age"

• Aggressive control of trade lead to an abundant lifestyle at home.
• Highest standard of living in the world.
• Universities, religious tolerance, and high wages attracted immigrants.
• They enjoyed a burst of cultural, artistic, and intellectual creativity.

The Keys to Success

• Never tried to conquer Europe.
• Created an "ocean empire" with the goal of securing trade, not land or people.
• Regular pay, new weaponry, and training created the best equipped and most professional troops in the world.

Decline of the Dutch

• Religious tolerance at home never developed into ethnic or racial tolerance overseas.
• The Dutch enslaved people and destroyed cultures.
• Eventually, England overtook the Dutch and adopted many of its strategies.