Argumentative Essay On New York

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, has over sixty miles of canals, close to one hundred islands, and 1,500 bridges. Many of the canals were built during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, including the three main canals: the Herengracht, the Prinsengracht, and the Keizersgracht. These canals form a concentric belt around the city and in 2010 were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the 13th century, Amsterdam was a small fishing village situated on the banks of the Amstel River. By 1369 it had joined the Hanseatic League, a group of maritime traders from the Netherlands and the North Sea. Although Amsterdam was growing and its port developing on the mouth of the Amstel River, maritime trade was still

The fortifications and improved trade situation did not protect Amsterdam from falling under Spanish rule in 1515, however, and a period of wars and compromises continued until 1581, when the seven provinces of the northern Netherlands formed the independent United Provinces. This alliance began attracting traders from Antwerp, rich Jewish families, and French Huguenots to Amsterdam. Many of these people were looking for an environment that allowed more progressive thinking and business opportunities, and Amsterdam offered both. Although the military situation with Spain remained tense for several decades, maritime trade and warehouse businesses began to develop quickly, in large part because of the development of the canal system. In 1602 the Dutch East India Company was formed, and in 1621 the Dutch West India Company followed, to enable trade with the Indian subcontinent and the Americas,

Driven by the mercantile middle class, this urban expansion was completed on schedule and added to the functionality, hydraulic safety and military protection of the city. The growth enabled by these canal expansion projects helped to make Amsterdam one of Europe’s great capital cities, and >its port the most important for international maritime trade. By the late 17th century, Amsterdam’s per capita income was four times that of Paris, and its tradition of respecting middle-class, humanist values and providing support to its mercantile and trading classes had attracted hard-working people from all over Europe. In this way, it was able to constantly replenish its economic and artistic elite, aided by the ease of trade and transportation afforded by its canal