The Dutch Maritime Empire in the Long Seventeenth Century

In this course we will learn about various aspects of the Dutch Golden Age, 1588-1712, and related maritime material culture. We will examine the establishment of the Dutch Republic, its rise as a major maritime power rivaled only by England, and the artistic preeminence of the Netherlands in this period. The focus will be on the institutional, colonial, and economic rise of this small but important nation. This interdisciplinary course will be of particular interest to students of History, Art History, Literature, and International and Global Studies. This course counts as elective credit towards the History major.