Dutch Republic Dbq Analysis

During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic became a prominent power in Europe. After the northern provinces of the Netherlands gained their independence from Spain in 1609, these provinces became known as the Dutch Republic, marking the beginning of their prosperity. Characterized by its flourishing trade and merchant class, the Dutch Republic soon became a key target for many powerful European nations like France and Britain. Therefore, it encountered constant warfare and struggled with economic threats from foreign countries while also facing internal disunity among its provinces, all factors that ultimately led to the downfall of the Dutch Golden Age.

Constant English threats of invasion challenged Dutch security, which played a large

The English East India Company became the main competition for the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch colonial administrator exposed this threat in a letter to the directors of the Dutch East India Company in 1705. He wrote “the profits of our East Indian trade have turned into losses, the java trade is declining, and the commercial competition from the English, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and Muslims in Asia cannot be checked” (Doc 13). The French ambassador to the Dutch Republic, Marquis de Pomponne, also noticed the growing English competition and wrote that the “English East India Company has grown larger and causes the Dutch much anxiety. This trade competition was the real cause of the war which broke out in the 1650's between England and the Dutch Republic” (Doc 11). This report to the French government demonstrates England’s growing power, as well as Pomponne’s desire to highlight the threat England posed to France’s

Foreign threats and competition withered away the security, unity, and prosperity of this nation, eventually removing it from the status of global power. Interestingly, the downfall of the Dutch Republic reflects the collapse Ancient Rome.Similar to the Dutch Republic who faced constant attacks by foreign nations and whose ships were captured, Rome also encountered invasions and threats from outside forces. Barbarians attacked rome, stealing its treasury, creating a financial crisis. These barbarians also raided Roman ships and stopped the flow of trade with the East. Also, both Rome and the Dutch Republic experienced problems of disunity. Rome’s size alone made it difficult to govern, while the lack of leadership amongst emperors towards the fall of Rome contributed to Rome’s downfall. The Dutch Republic also faced leadership problems such as the inability of the provinces to elect a military leader to fight against Louis XIV. The problems of foreign invasions and disunity led to collapse of the Golden Age of the Dutch Republic and the Roman Empire. These two once-thriving forces remained forgotten in