What makes a “golden age”?
I think that a “golden age” refers to a cultural high point-artistically, politically and is also in a time of peace and stability, almost a utopia. The Dutch Golden age was a time of wealth (Trading companies, banks, expansions to Americas) and art (Frans Hals, Jan Vermeer, Rembrandt….) This was the Dutch high point, thematically, the Dutch fell after William of Orange became stadholder, and England passed the Navigation Act…
6 comments:
I agree completely with what your saying; that a "golden age" consists of basically a few main things; Peace, Prosperity, economic wealth, and of course expansion of one's territory. And I would further like to emphasize that expansion is what I believe contributes perhaps most heavily to the golden age of a country because I think, although it can worry other countries, it can also of course expand the country's rule making it probably more secure
Although the Dutch fell after William of Orange became stadtholder I don't think that it was his fault, it was more a consequence of Louis XIV's decision to wage war and an economically ambitious England, I don;t know what William III could have done to stop them other than wager war on the English or let France come but neither one of them would have worked.
I agree with erica. But i feel that the the major factor in a countries "golden age" is that they are self sufficient. Now the dutch weren't able to export their own goods yet they still prospered form being the middle man. i think they where lucky in the fact that no one simply sent their own ships in the first place. They are a rare case. But france was self sufficient in its golden age, and so where a magnitude of other powers in past history.
Hey! You guys all make good points. In terms of the 17th century, as Erica mentioned with the banks, trade companies and expansion efforts, the most predominate element to its Dutch “Golden Age” was its cultural advancement. Although many other military, economic, and political events helped define the Baroque era, the music and art is what led to the most modern and significant change in Holland and in Europe; it created a national identity.
I agree with you on everything except comparing a golden age to a utopia. It seems like we consider periods "golden ages" way too easily. A true golden age ought to be like a utopia, but often times golden age refers to a time when a nation is doing well, but in some areas it just is not. For example, during Spain's golden age, the Inquisition was tossing minorities out of the country. In France under Louis, millions lived in poverty, just a lot of people lived in luxury. Maybe we use the term golden age too loosely.
Erica, I just want to dispute one point. The Dutch started to fall as a result of the Navigation Act, which took away their ability to put bread on the table. Your post makes it sound like The Dutch fell because William III was an inept leader, which I don't think was the case
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