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The history of the world economy - Polyak GB

11.4. Holland as "exemplary" capitalist country XVII.

The reasons for the economic recovery in the early XVII.

From the XVII century. Holland started the economic recovery, and it turned into a "model" of capitalist countries has become. the first trade and sea power, "the world a cab."

Economic recovery in the Netherlands of the XVII century. She contributed to a number of circumstances.

As a result of the great geographic discoveries was moving the world's trade routes in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Netherlands has become the focus of world maritime trade. She had inherited the role of world trade, which was carried out before Spain and Portugal, as well as the Hanseatic League. Netherlands concentrated in the hands of intermediary trade between countries. They also used the uneven growth of prices in the different countries as a result of "price revolution" and get more profit out of it.

Yet were decisive factors for domestic economic recovery Holland.

The most important condition for economic recovery were the Netherlands bourgeois revolution and the early development of capitalism in the North of the Netherlands. Came to power, the bourgeoisie has created favorable conditions for the development of industry and trade on the capitalist principles.

The industrial boom and the Netherlands contributed to the period of revolution and war, emigration from the southern provinces to the north of the commercial and industrial population.

The development of industry

In the boom years it has successfully developed Manufactory Holland industry. Large industries was shipbuilding, which is one of the first places among the branches of the economy. On the Amsterdam shipyards, Saardam and other cities were built a lot of ships. Shipbuilding was specialized, built ships for different purposes. Holland has created the most powerful merchant fleet merchant fleet exceeding all other European countries. Thanks to the cheap freight Netherlands became the "world as a cab driver."

Casting guns in the XVI century.

The most important sector of the economy has been fishing, harvesting of herring. At the beginning of the XVI century. 2000. The number of employed in this sector amounted to 100-120 thousand people -. In fishing vessels in 1600 and thereafter was employed.

The main branch of the Dutch industry remained the production of cloth. Made in the country cloth was exported to many countries. Products silk manufactories in its cheapness compete with the French.

Exports worked on the production vschelke leather and paper.

Agriculture and trade

After the Revolution, it was almost completely abolished the feudal relations in the countryside. Earth nobility - Spanish supporters and the Catholic Church - were confiscated and handed over to the bourgeoisie and the farmers. Develop trade and commercial livestock farming, horticulture and gardening.

In agriculture entrenched multi player and crop rotation system, while in other countries has used three-field system and developed economy extensively.

In the XVII century. The Netherlands ranked first in the world in the development of productive livestock. Her pedigree cattle was considered the best in the world. Made here butter and cheese exported to many countries.

Successfully developed the industry processing agricultural raw materials (beer, vodka, sugar, tobacco). The products of these sectors successfully sold in many countries.

The economic recovery in the Netherlands of the XVII century. He was closely associated with the trade. Holland seized the trade basins of North and Baltic Seas. From Scandinavia Dutch merchants exported timber (for shipbuilding), furs, fish from northern Germany, Poland and Lithuania -. Bread, cattle, flax and other Dutch merchants established a link with the Russian market. they took out the wood, flax and other raw materials from Russia. The Dutch traded with Narva, Revel, Riga, Libau, Königsberg, Gdansk, Hamburg, and so on. D.

Trade in Bruges

In the XVI century. Dutch replaced the Hanseatic League in the trade with Great Britain, and in the XVII century. established trade relations with France.

Finance and credit

In 1609, the first deposit and the Amsterdam exchange bank was founded. Its deposits in 1610-1640 gg. increased eightfold. Lending operations reached a large scale. Amsterdam became the financial center of the world, the international securities market, where loans are distributed in all European countries. In the XVII century. Holland was the center and international speculation.

The development of capitalist relations affected the finances of Holland. To approve the system of public debt. In the middle of the XVII century. Dutch government debt amounted to 150 million. Guilders, which annually absorbs 6.5 million. Guilders in interest.

Colonial expansion

Holland trade wars gradually destroyed the colonial monopoly of Spain and Portugal, and capturing their colony, set up its own colonial empire, covering possession on three continents.

With a view to the exploitation of colonies were formed special company. In 1602 it was founded the East India Company with the participation of the government, which lasted until 1792. The company held a monopoly on trade with the countries of the basin of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. On behalf of the Government, it has concluded trade and peace treaties, had the army and police, military and merchant fleet, minted coins. In the colonies, the company has created a plantation of spices and a lot of factors.

The Dutch bought Manhattan

The colonial policy of the Netherlands is not different from the colonial policy of its predecessors - Portugal and Spain. The Dutch colonial plundering the population, taken expensive products for export to Europe, forced local princes deliver colonial goods, the purchase prices of which were determined by the Dutch, and were lower than the prices established by their predecessors, the Spanish and Portuguese *.

* In 1626, the first governor of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands Peter Minnevit bought from the Indians for 60 guilders on. Manhattan, which founded the city of New Amsterdam (modern New York).

In order to maintain the monopoly of the spice trade, and maintain high prices for them, the Dutch reduced the production, on-site burning products, limited their import to Europe. They also traded opium derived from Bengal. Since 1610, the East India Company began trading Chinese tea, which is 4-4.5 times more expensive to sell in Europe.

In 1621 it was created the Dutch West India Company, which is engaged in the slave trade, piracy, robbery and lasted until 1674 Robbery Spanish ships to give more profit.

Economic decline in the Netherlands

Since the middle of XVII century. Holland began to experience increasing competition from England, suffered defeat and retreated into the background, but retained their colonies in Indonesia and the role of the usurer Europe. Beginning of the economic decline of the Netherlands, whose had his reasons. First of all, this is a weak industrial base of trade - the country did not have enough of either raw materials or territory or labor.

At that time, European economies are becoming increasingly important heavy industry, and in the Netherlands there was no deposits or coal or iron ore. Although her trade, shipping and shipbuilding grew, the industry working on the broad market were limited. None of the sectors of the economy, apart from usury, did not meet the broad scope of its external trade.

In terms of industrial development The Netherlands is increasingly lagged behind England. The abundance of shopping opportunities for enrichment of the Dutch bourgeoisie did not stimulate its investment in the industry. Investing capital only on credit and trade, of course, had a negative impact on the development of the industry.

In addition, being at state power commercial bourgeoisie on the basis of their narrow class interests opposed protectionist customs duties, resulting in the Netherlands industry remained unprotected and losing in competition with foreign goods. It should also be noted that trade in the Netherlands largely had the character of mediation - it is not so much traded their goods as the goods of other countries and, therefore, not based on their high level of economic development, and on the other lag.

A large discrepancy between the industrial and commercial possibilities of the country and became one of the major factors of its economic decline. Because of the large role of trade in the economy of the Netherlands economy is strongly dependent on the situation in neighboring countries, protectionist tariffs, war (and others) that have a strong impact on the Netherlands. Restricting trade with the English colonies, Cromwell's Navigation Act (1651) and other trade restrictions have been hit hard by the Dutch economy. The development of commercial capital in the UK, France and Germany limited the scope of the Dutch commercial capital.

Gradually England caught up with Holland's merchant fleet by tonnage and then ahead of her. England ahead in terms of development and manufacturing industry. The Dutch dominated the commercial capital, and in England has become the dominant industrial capital. The history of the decline of the Netherlands as the country's dominant trade is a history of subordination of commercial capital and industrial capital.

England supplanted with intermediate trade markets Holland has lost its hegemony in world trade. Holland has kept the global lender's role in this regard, its importance in the relations with Britain and Europe even increased. Amsterdam remained the center of international financial transactions, and as a major creditor contributed to economic growth in England.

Review Questions

1. Tell us about the features feudalization in England.

2. Describe the UK economy in the XI-XV centuries.

3. How does the peasant uprising in the feudal system of England?

4. What are the causes of the economic recovery in Britain XVI- XVII centuries.

5. What was the agrarian revolution in England and what were the results?

6. Tell us about the economic causes and consequences of the English bourgeois revolution.

7. Explain why England is called "classic" country of primitive accumulation of capital.

8. Tell us about the features of the Netherlands economy in the XVI century.

9. Compare the socio-economic causes and consequences of the Dutch and the English bourgeois revolution.

10. Explain why the Netherlands - "exemplary" capitalist country XVII.

11. What were the reasons for the economic decline of the Netherlands in the second half of XVII century.?