The Dutch Republic

The Dutch Golden Age was one of the most spectacularly creative episodes in world history. The age of Grotius, Spinoza, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, it was also remarkable for its immense impact in the spheres of commerce, finance, shipping, and technology. This book provides a comprehensive account of the history of the Dutch republic, from the revolt against Spain in the sixteenth century to its declining fortunes and abolition by Napoleon in the nineteenth, setting the Golden Age in its full historical context.