Answer to Question #130823 in History for Marno Plank

Question

Briefly discuss the reasons why the Dutch significantly expanded their power outside Holland during the 17th century.

Answer 1

The reasons why the Dutch significantly expanded their power outside Holland during the 17th century

The Dutch expanded their power significantly in the 17th century because of their successes in Baltic and North Sea shipping and their prosperity in agricultural productivity. However, the successful fight with the Spanish around 1670 was also a significant turning point that made the Dutch powerful and propelled their expansion to the other parts of the world. Furthermore, there was a rapid and steady growth of the Dutch economy during the 17th century. It enabled increased productivity, which encouraged expansion during the century. The productivity encouraged trade between the Dutch and the other countries around the world. As a result, the Dutch felt they should expand their power to control trade.