Historical story

Republic in the time of monarchs

The history exam for high school students is coming up again. To lend you a hand, Kennislink lists all articles about the Netherlands and the Republic between 1477 and 1702. Here you will find extra depth and explanation about difficult subjects from the final exam.

The History exam always consists of two subjects and The Republic in the time of Vorsten, 1477-1702 is one of them. A broad topic. Not only because of the long period, the many upheavals that have taken place in it and the comparison with France and England. The treatment of no fewer than three major themes, politics, economy and religion, makes it extra complex.

Since every student finds a different subject or period difficult, Kennislink has listed all its relevant articles. The periods are arranged in the same way as in the graduation syllabus, with articles below that provide additional information on political, economic and religious topics from the period in question. Some topics may overlap, such as politics and religion during the Rebellion.

Under the rule of Burgundians and Habsburgs:1477-1555

Politics

  • Papal propaganda. About the struggle for power between popes and kings in the 15th and 16th centuries.
  • Erasmus. “War is beautiful for those who don't know it”. The vision of this well-known philosopher on, among other things, war and politics and the influence of his ideas on Europe.
  • Birthday Erasmus Some extra information about Erasmus itself.

Economics

  • The lively medieval book industry. The origin of the commercial book trade. For the first time in history, this industry allowed for the dissemination of ideas and knowledge on a large scale.

Religion

  • Long before Luther, everyone read the Bible. Religious self-study already started at the time of the Burgundians.
  • Calvin was not that strict. On the teachings of Calvin, the founder of Calvinism. This was the largest Protestant movement in the Netherlands.
  • Reformation:religion is politics About the Reformation and the wars that followed.

The Dutch Revolt:1555-1588

Politics

  • William of Orange. Father of the fatherland. Background information about this famous nobleman and champion of freedom of religion.
  • Media violence and propaganda. About the successful use of propaganda by William of Orange to justify the Revolt.
  • Sixteenth century propaganda works. More information about the use of propaganda by Willem van Oranje.
  • The Duke of Alba. The role of this Spanish general in Dutch history.
  • How the Netherlands was born. The Netherlands was 'born' around 1580 through three important documents that confirmed the independence of Spain:the Union of Utrecht, the Apology of William of Orange and the Placard of Abandonment.
  • Union of Utrecht. The Republic is born on paper in 1579 with the Union of Utrecht. An explanation of this agreement and the agreements made.

Religion

  • Priests lax towards Reformation. On the reaction of Catholic clergy to the Reformation.

A Golden Age for the Republic:1588-1648

Politics

  • The Dutch Revolt through Italian eyes. How the Dutch think and thought about the Revolt is known, but how did a foreigner experience it? The story of an Italian.
  • Ambassador willy-nilly. Cornelis Haga in Istanbul. To maintain trade relations, ambassadors were sent to faraway places, including Istanbul. About what the ambassadorship entailed and what the effects were for the Netherlands.

Economics

  • The Golden Age:a financial voyage of discovery.
  • Tulips madness. When spring comes, I'll send you…. The first stock market crash in history.
  • Immortal widows. Sailor marriages in the 17th century. The role of women, especially widows, for the economy in Holland.
  • Pirates from the Netherlands. Pirates were also part of the economy. The privateers were even ordered by political administrators to capture enemy ships full of loot for the home front.

Religion

  • Maurits and the File Disputes. An explanation of the complex situation and the relations between religion and politics during the Twelve Years' Truce.
  • Religious refugees. Thanksgiving a Dutch legacy?. The relative freedom of religion resulted in an influx of religious refugees, who were an asset to the growing economy in the Republic.
  • A new Bible. Sacred labor on a lofty revelation document. About the development of the States Translation.

The Republic loses its lead:1648-1702

Politics

  • The royal ambitions of the Orange stadtholders. In the course of the 17th century, the Oranges increasingly measured up to their royal neighbors.
  • Murder and media in the 17th century. After a stadtholderless era, the call for an Orange is great when the enemy approaches the borders. How propaganda leads to the murder of Johan de Witt and the role of William III in this.
  • Opinion of the common people on Disaster Year 1672. The common people, including women, closely followed the news and wrote about it in their letters.

Economics

  • War was commercial business. The Republic's naval wars were primarily aimed at commercial gain, but ultimately led to its downfall.
  • 'Forty Years' War' made the Republic poor. How the once role-defining Republic of the Netherlands ended up as a second-rate world power.
  • The dark side of the VOC mentality. The VOC not only transported luxury goods and spices, but also played an important role in slavery.

Religion

  • You are young and you want something. Pastor versus licentious youth.. Taking it out on licentious loitering youths is of all times. How the pastors in the 17th century tried to put a stop to all those cultural changes in which they saw the devil. Smoking, drinking, music and dancing were more important to the youth than the Bible.

Overlapping topics

Below you will find articles that span multiple periods and articles that partly contain relevant information about the final exam topic.

Politics

  • How the Pope Became the Boss. The role of the Pope from the early Middle Ages, on both the spiritual and secular stage.
  • No 17th century style. Regents often allowed themselves to be praised by poets. But in times of political crisis, pamphleteers ridiculed the elite.
  • Peace of Utrecht 1713. The influence of Louis XIV's political course for the Netherlands

Economics

  • Successful integration in the 16th century. Spanish traders and refugees in the Netherlands. The Netherlands already had religious refugees before the 17th century. About a successful integration.
  • The VOC in the 17th century and the first shares. In-depth article about the role of the VOC in the 17th century and an explanation of the first shares in history.
  • Dishonest poor. The view of poverty through the ages. How people thought about arms changed over time. Under the Habsburgs, this group was treated very differently than during the Republic.
  • Citizens, farmers and traders in beaver hides. The Colony of New Netherland, 1624-1664. Economy beyond national borders went further than the VOC and the WIC. The Netherlands founded a colony in present-day New York. Trade with the Indians was the main driver for permanent settlement of the area.

Religion

  • The Reformation through the ages:Religion is politics. On the Development of Protestantism. since the first dissenting voices in the late Middle Ages.
  • Dance with death. Painted penitential sermons in the late Middle Ages. The attitude of the medieval man towards death was an important part of the Catholic religion.
  • Spinoza and later philosophers get rid of religion. In the 17th century a 'radical' Enlightenment arose, mainly thanks to Spinoza's ideas, which dealt with almost all aspects of religion.

General

  • The Golden Age Dossier An entire file with articles on all kinds of subjects from the Golden Age (partly overlapping with the above articles). Arranged by topic.

Read more about the other exam topic for History:The United States and Its Federal Government


Previous Post