Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The 17th century was the Dutch century, they pioneered everything related to modern capitalism, beginning with the formation of the Dutch East India company, the first company to issue stock for public trading in 1602. The first stock exchange opened in 1611, with innovations such as stock futures, options, short selling, bear raids, debt equity swaps, bonds, insurance. The concept of Central Banking began in 1609 with the opening of the Bank of Amsterdam, which created the first trusted system for national and international payments. The first world reserve currency, the Bank Guilder, was born from the Bank of Amsterdam. They also invented new types of taxes, such as transaction tax, property tax, income tax.
Taiwan and South Africa had nothing until the Dutch showed up, there were no cities or infrastructure to speak of, until the Dutch invested in those countries. The English picked up on these new capitalist ideas and copied the Dutch system to form the British East India Company in 1657, and Bank Of England in 1694.
Spain was doing rather well in the 17th century, still extracting mineral wealth from the America's, even after the Armada defeat in war with England in 1588, they still had money to burn thru the whole of the 1600's, but they did not copy the capitalist concepts from the Dutch like England was doing, and was ill prepared for the industrial revolution coming in the 18th century. The Ottoman Turks were also filthy rich in the 17th century, but never went to Dutch banking school and ended up in the same boat as Spain....sick man of Europe by the 19th century.
Western civilization owes much to what the Dutch did in the 17th century, perhaps everything we have, the Dutch taught us how to get.
The Spanish and Ottoman empire was still really strong in military during the 16th century.
For Spain: For the first of these two decades Europe enjoyed a kind of Pax Hispanica. Spanish armies controlled Italy, Flanders, and parts of the Rhineland. Spanish and Spanish-inclined Jesuits were confessors at the courts of the Austrian Habsburgs, Poland, Bavaria, and some of the minor German and Italian princes. Spanish subsidies, pensions, and bribes made clients even of Protestant politicians in England, Holland, and the Swiss cantons (although much less effectively so than Madrid hoped); and Spanish-paid spies fed the governments of Madrid and Brussels with valuable, if not always accurate, information about potential enemies in the United Provinces (Holland), England, and France. Yet, to a much greater degree than most contemporaries realized, this Spanish domination of Europe rested on default: the disunity and temporary weakness of Spain’s political and religious opponents. The psychological effects of this position on Spain were wholly disastrous, for it confirmed the Castilian ruling classes in their imperialist attitudes.https://www.britannica.com/place/Spa...-of-Philip-III
With the Ottoman empire, they managed to get to the gates of Vienna, occupy much of South Eastern Europe too including most of Hungary. They were still a major power within Europe.
With the Netherlands they managed to bring in religious freedom such as allow freedom of worship of religion, and tolerated different religions there such as Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism. In fact the Netherlands allowed persecuted Jews from other parts of Europe to settle in the Netherlands and build Jewish places of worship there. It was the best European country then for religious freedom too. The Netherlands also created a vast overseas empire where it became the richest country in Europe and the most scientifically advanced country at that period.
Of course the Dutch also started a nice little colony in America, New Amsterdam, founded only 4 years after Plymouth colony had been established by the Pilgrims in 1620. Hard to say why the British decided to steal it in 1654, attacking the colony when there was peace between Holland and England at the time. That wasn't very nice, but the British did agree to give up Suriname in South America to the Dutch, a plantation colony that was probably more profitable than New Amsterdam. I'm guessing the British did not want the Dutch to control the Hudson River. As it was, after the British gained control, they thought the colony was dysfunctional and not really all that important. America was a backwater, and looking at the end of the 1600's with the Salem Witch trials in 1692, America did not make a lot of progress in the 17th century, but you have to start somewhere, lol.
Spain may have had a lot of money but they were not professional financiers and bankers like the Dutch had become. With the protestant reformation, much of Northern Europe and England had become protestant, and the Catholics to the south in France, Germany and Italy were not real keen on doing business with the protestant Dutch, or the English. Along comes the next country to pick up on Dutch banking methods to service the Catholics, Switzerland. The Swiss started banking services in the 18th century, and added the innovation of secrecy, where no client names or account information would ever be disclosed under penalty of law. Later when they took the position that they would remain neutral in any European war, Swiss banking skyrocketed. As many languages were spoken in Switzerland, The banks in Geneva catered to the French, Lugano for the Italians, and Zurich for the Germans.
Surprisingly, nobody has mentioned the other group that made out like bandits in the 17th century, the pirates. The period of 1650 to 1720 was known as the Golden Age Of Piracy. All those ships full of treasure sailing around the world were ripe for the picking. Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, to name a few of the big ones. Many pirates started out as privateers, working for a specific country to attack the shipping of an enemy country, and sharing the loot with the king of the sponsoring country. Problem with that, when the war or conflict between the 2 countries ended, they lost their license to rob ships. Being at sea and out of touch with the latest news, conflicts between warring countries might be resolved by treaty, but the privateer would not know and continue to rob what they thought were enemy ships, only to be arrested for piracy and hanged when they got the loot back home. So a lot of privateers became full blown pirates that attacked any ship they thought they could take.
For the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean and North Africa, the golden age of piracy lasted about 500 years or so, finally ending in the early 1800's, they were taking ships and snatching people off the coastline of France, Italy, Ireland, England, the Netherlands for centuries, and sold them into slavery for the Ottoman Empire. The Dutch and the Americans finally sent them down to Davy Jones Locker in the Barbary War in 1805, where they eventually got new jobs and joined the ghost ship The Flying Dutchman, and found movie roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and Spongebob Squarepants movie.
The world changed in the 1600s for sure. Did the changes make a great impact?
The invention and wide implementation of the steam engine in early 1800s, well that made the greatest impact ever seen in the history of mankind.
The world changed in the 1600s for sure. Did the changes make a great impact?
The invention and wide implementation of the steam engine in early 1800s, well that made the greatest impact ever seen in the history of mankind.
Of course the Dutch also started a nice little colony in America, New Amsterdam, founded only 4 years after Plymouth colony had been established by the Pilgrims in 1620. Hard to say why the British decided to steal it in 1654, attacking the colony when there was peace between Holland and England at the time. That wasn't very nice, but the British did agree to give up Suriname in South America to the Dutch, a plantation colony that was probably more profitable than New Amsterdam. I'm guessing the British did not want the Dutch to control the Hudson River. As it was, after the British gained control, they thought the colony was dysfunctional and not really all that important. America was a backwater, and looking at the end of the 1600's with the Salem Witch trials in 1692, America did not make a lot of progress in the 17th century, but you have to start somewhere, lol.
Spain may have had a lot of money but they were not professional financiers and bankers like the Dutch had become. With the protestant reformation, much of Northern Europe and England had become protestant, and the Catholics to the south in France, Germany and Italy were not real keen on doing business with the protestant Dutch, or the English. Along comes the next country to pick up on Dutch banking methods to service the Catholics, Switzerland. The Swiss started banking services in the 18th century, and added the innovation of secrecy, where no client names or account information would ever be disclosed under penalty of law. Later when they took the position that they would remain neutral in any European war, Swiss banking skyrocketed. As many languages were spoken in Switzerland, The banks in Geneva catered to the French, Lugano for the Italians, and Zurich for the Germans.
Surprisingly, nobody has mentioned the other group that made out like bandits in the 17th century, the pirates. The period of 1650 to 1720 was known as the Golden Age Of Piracy. All those ships full of treasure sailing around the world were ripe for the picking. Henry Morgan, Captain Kidd, Blackbeard, to name a few of the big ones. Many pirates started out as privateers, working for a specific country to attack the shipping of an enemy country, and sharing the loot with the king of the sponsoring country. Problem with that, when the war or conflict between the 2 countries ended, they lost their license to rob ships. Being at sea and out of touch with the latest news, conflicts between warring countries might be resolved by treaty, but the privateer would not know and continue to rob what they thought were enemy ships, only to be arrested for piracy and hanged when they got the loot back home. So a lot of privateers became full blown pirates that attacked any ship they thought they could take.
For the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean and North Africa, the golden age of piracy lasted about 500 years or so, finally ending in the early 1800's, they were taking ships and snatching people off the coastline of France, Italy, Ireland, England, the Netherlands for centuries, and sold them into slavery for the Ottoman Empire. The Dutch and the Americans finally sent them down to Davy Jones Locker in the Barbary War in 1805, where they eventually got new jobs and joined the ghost ship The Flying Dutchman, and found movie roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and Spongebob Squarepants movie.
The Barbary Pirates also made raids on and Spanish islands close to North Africa. They also made raids as far as Iceland too. The young women were sold into prostitution, and the men and boys became slaves.
Those that were able to secure their freedom was due due to wealthy donors paying for their release.
The Barbary Pirates also made raids on and Spanish islands close to North Africa. They also made raids as far as Iceland too. The young women were sold into prostitution, and the men and boys became slaves.
Those that were able to secure their freedom was due due to wealthy donors paying for their release.
Another big player in the 17th century, about to decline but still going strong, The Habsburgs aka Holy Roman Empire, which included Spain, as well as Germany, much of Eastern Europe and the Italian States, Portugal, Netherlands, and previously, France. The Habsburgs had been a major enemy of France since the early 1500's when they captured the French king, Francis 1, and carted him off to Madrid and made him capitulate to Habsburg demands. They released him back to France, and he starts looking around for allies to assist France in his fight against the Hapsburgs. What he did was shocking to the Christian world, he makes an alliance with the Ottoman Empire!
By the 1600's France was sending troops to fight alongside the Ottomans against Hungary, Italy and other Habsburg territory. France gets a trade monopoly with the Turks in return, where any Christian country that wants to trade with the Ottomans must go thru France. This alliance with the Ottomans and France lasted until 1923, lol. Even after France invaded Algeria in 1830 to finish off the last remaining Barbary Pirates, the Ottomans stick with France to the end, and France eventually becomes a haven for Muslim immigration after Algeria becomes independent. An unholy alliance indeed, one that France should have severed long ago, and perhaps should not have invaded Algeria, lol.
Another big player in the 17th century, about to decline but still going strong, The Habsburgs aka Holy Roman Empire, which included Spain, as well as Germany, much of Eastern Europe and the Italian States, Portugal, Netherlands, and previously, France. The Habsburgs had been a major enemy of France since the early 1500's when they captured the French king, Francis 1, and carted him off to Madrid and made him capitulate to Habsburg demands. They released him back to France, and he starts looking around for allies to assist France in his fight against the Hapsburgs. What he did was shocking to the Christian world, he makes an alliance with the Ottoman Empire!
By the 1600's France was sending troops to fight alongside the Ottomans against Hungary, Italy and other Habsburg territory. France gets a trade monopoly with the Turks in return, where any Christian country that wants to trade with the Ottomans must go thru France. This alliance with the Ottomans and France lasted until 1923, lol. Even after France invaded Algeria in 1830 to finish off the last remaining Barbary Pirates, the Ottomans stick with France to the end, and France eventually becomes a haven for Muslim immigration after Algeria becomes independent. An unholy alliance indeed, one that France should have severed long ago, and perhaps should not have invaded Algeria, lol.
Well you are really wrong that the alliance with Ottoman empire ended in 1923. Did you know the French troops invaded Gallipoli which is a short distance of the capital of the Ottoman empire in 1915? I should know because I was taught that in school here in Australia as Australians and New Zealanders both heavily participated in that invasion, and it was not just the Australians and New Zealanders, but the British and French too sent their troops to fight against the Ottomans. It was a military disaster and the most costly invasion by the Australians and New Zealanders in military history and so much people died there. Every Australian that has been to an school here in Australia knows very much about the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. Just like the Battle of Gettysburg is so much known in American school students and Americans were taught that in school.
Well in World War 1 France declared war on the Ottoman empire. France wanted territory in the Ottoman empire and in 1916 with the alliance with the UK, Russia and Italy created the Sykes–Picot Agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%...icot_Agreement
With it France wanted to take hold of the territory of Lebanon and Syria. While the UK get hold of Palestine, Jordan and Iraq. Besides those were former Ottoman territory. The current borders of those countries today is very similar to the ones the British and French created over 100 years ago.
With Algeria they at first went to war with the Barbarity Pirates and after France won, they felt it was the best thing for them to occupy the areas the Barbarity pirates operate so they wont be a threat again to France.
Algeria was a mess, however it did function as a really important French colony and was the Jewel of French crown just like India was to the British empire. However it all fell apart not long after the end of WW2.
I was surprised when I read the French/Ottoman alliance lasting until 1923 in one of those wiki pages. I think after the Napoleon era, France would not care much about the Ottoman Empire. But going back to the early 1500's, France was completely encircled by Charles V, whom was not only the king of Spain but leader of the Holy Roman Empire. Under king Francis 1, France stopped using Latin and the French language was born, France wanted to remain independent from the Hapsburgs. He turned to England first for help, but really wanted allies in Eastern Europe to help him fight the Hapsburgs, and made alliance with Poland. That was not enough, he was desperate and turned to the Ottomans. They jumped on it, as they hated the Habsburgs as much as France did, so it worked. One good thing to come from this, as part of the agreement, France gained some protection for Christians living in the Ottoman Empire, especially the Levant areas, which their safety had been sustained as much as to be expected, until the past 50 years when it all went horribly wrong, and they were driven out.
Brushing up on Algeria, they became independent from the Ottoman Empire under Baba Ali Chaouch, ruler of Algiers from 1710 to 1718. From then on, all the pirate loot went to Algeria and the Ottomans were cut off. So I would guess the Ottomans were not all that upset when France invaded Algeria in 1830.
I was surprised when I read the French/Ottoman alliance lasting until 1923 in one of those wiki pages. I think after the Napoleon era, France would not care much about the Ottoman Empire. But going back to the early 1500's, France was completely encircled by Charles V, whom was not only the king of Spain but leader of the Holy Roman Empire. Under king Francis 1, France stopped using Latin and the French language was born, France wanted to remain independent from the Hapsburgs. He turned to England first for help, but really wanted allies in Eastern Europe to help him fight the Hapsburgs, and made alliance with Poland. That was not enough, he was desperate and turned to the Ottomans. They jumped on it, as they hated the Habsburgs as much as France did, so it worked. One good thing to come from this, as part of the agreement, France gained some protection for Christians living in the Ottoman Empire, especially the Levant areas, which their safety had been sustained as much as to be expected, until the past 50 years when it all went horribly wrong, and they were driven out.
Brushing up on Algeria, they became independent from the Ottoman Empire under Baba Ali Chaouch, ruler of Algiers from 1710 to 1718. From then on, all the pirate loot went to Algeria and the Ottomans were cut off. So I would guess the Ottomans were not all that upset when France invaded Algeria in 1830.
Well encyclopedia.com is more accurate information in that period. Also in the 16th century France being catholic became not just aligned with the Ottoman empire, but the central European Protestant states. Even the Ottoman empire supported the central European protestant states as they were at war with the Habsburg empire.
France eventually surpassed Venice as the most important European trading partner in the Levant and dominated the shipping there.
Actually France under Napoleon went against traditional French policy of good relations with the Ottoman empire as Napoleon occupied Egypt for three years. The Ottoman empire got in alliance with Britain and their old enemy Russia to defeat Napoleon forces in Egypt. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history...ustria-hungary
BTW at the end of WW1 the SèVRES, TREATY OF (1920)
British prime minister David Lloyd George, while mouthing all the proper slogans about goodwill to Middle Eastern peoples, was there to advance the interests of the British Empire. These included British-controlled sea and land routes to India and assurance that no other power be given important strategic areas.
French president Georges Clemenceau, compensating for heavy French troop losses, adamantly adhered to each wartime agreement signed by the Allies that would give France a hold on Syria and southern Anatolia. He also hoped for dominance over the Turkish Straits and perhaps over what would become Turkey. U.S. president Woodrow Wilson came with his Fourteen Points.
Greece was supposed to recover its long lost territory in the treaty such as parts of Western Turkey. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history.../treaty-sevres
As the Middle East was being split into Western control at the end of WW1, the result was the Turkish revolution which resulted in the end of the Ottoman rule into a Republic.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
