Recent Dutch-Language Publications

Bijdragen tot de taal- land- en volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, vol. 179, pp. 157–173

Abstract

This book was published in 2019, as the result of a cooperative effort of 21 scholars, all experts on the Dutch 'Golden Age' , which was golden only for the well-to-do, with the great majority of the population living in misery.The contributors-14 Dutch and 7 English-speaking-have submitted articles reflecting their expertise on a particular subject, fitting in one of seven main categories: space, war, politics, economy and trade, religion, arts, education and science.The essays inquire into themes such as urbanization, migration, water, military organization, political system, market and trade worldwide, religion and its tolerance, art and literature.In comparison with the Cambridge book, the Dutch edition has been revised and corrected and a chapter on slavery was added.The editors did not stop at stocktaking, but also had the objective to question the widely held view that the Republic was something unique, and as such managed to survive.Also, they felt that the negative aspects of the Republic deserved more attention.Moreover, its susceptibility to developments in other parts of Europe and worldwide was seen to be of paramount importance.The 'decline and fall' model is argued to be insufficient in explaining the paradoxes and lacunae in the historiography of the Republic.More attention to the intensive connections with other European states is deemed essential.And the editors conclude that if the Republic is something extraordinary, this was not caused by intrinsic differences with the world outside, but rather by manifold connections and interactions with other societies.The East and West Indies played a role in this, too.These get a fair share in the book, with separate chapters on worldwide trade and slavery, and proportionate at-Downloaded from Brill.

Authors 1

1. Harry A. Poeze corresponding Aachen KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies The Netherlands Leiden

   Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies

   Affiliation as printed

   KITLV/Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies The Netherlands Leiden