Description
The 17th century saw the Netherlands emerge as an economic and cultural powerhouse. The Dutch capitalist economy generated incredible wealth, both national and personal. A vibrant middle class emerged, becoming patrons of the artistic explosion which characterized the age. The 17th Century Dutch were truly unique in Europe, with a civilization built around work, the family, toleration, and republicanism. What accounts for these developments? Why were the Dutch so different, and how do we explain their decline and later fall from power?
