The Rise of the Netherlands and the Decline of Spain
The reputation of the Netherlands as an important country increased in
prominence during the 'early modern period' of history, that being
1500-1700. This essay intends to show that their 'rise' can be shown
in terms of both a cause and also symptomatic of Spain's decrease in
significance over the same period. The Spanish 'decline' largely
concerns the period between 1600 and 1650, when Phillip III went from
"monarch of the world"[i] (New Cambridge Modern History Volume 4
(1970), pp. 269) into a position where his country had descended into
"poverty and torpor"[ii] (NCMH, pp. 280). Meanwhile, the Netherlands
(in this essay, the term 'Netherlands' refers to the seven United
Provinces in northern Europe) "raised themselves from nothing the
challenge the massed might of the Spanish monarchy"[iii] (JH Elliott,
'Richelieu And Olivares' (1989), pp. 72).
Spain, even before 1600, had mounting debts and fiscal troubles. In
1595, the Spanish crown owed 100 million ducados to its creditors, and
their debt was estimated at 1.6 million ducados per year from 1601
onwards[iv] (NCMH, pp. 440). It had such an unreliable reputation that
moneylenders were loath to give money at less than 70% interest (note
that the Netherlands could borrow at 3%). Such a situation meant that
Spain's actions over the period should have been concentrated on
rebuilding the economy, clearing debts and strengthening the nation.
However, Spain had already amassed a global empire, which she desired
to keep. Kamen notes in 'Golden Age Spain' (1988) that "Spain, with
its small population and weak economy, did not have the res...
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pp. 4
[xv] Simon Schama, The Embarrassment of Riches, (London, 1988) pp.223
[xvi] ibid
[xvii] CR Boxer, The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 (London, 1965),
pp. 18
[xviii] Dr. Richard Mackenney, Lecture 17: "A changing culture? The
Dutch in the 17th Century"
[xix] CR Boxer, The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 (London, 1965),
pp. 19
[xx] JR Cooper (ed.), New Cambridge Modern History Volume 4
(Cambridge, 1970), pp. 280
[xxi] Henry Kamen, Golden Age Spain (London, 1988), pp. 62
Bibliography
Boxer, CR, The Dutch seaborne empire 1600-1800, London, 1965
Cooper, JR (editor), New Cambridge Modern History Volume 4, Cambridge,
1970
Elliott, JH, Richelieu And Olivares, Cambridge, 1989
Kamen, H, Golden Age Spain, London, 1988
Schama, S, The Embarrassment of Riches, London, 1988
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Diffie, Bailey W. Foundations of the Portuguese empire, 1415-1580. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1977. Print.
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