Prior to 1650 the Dutch Republic was dominated financially, politically and economically by Amsterdam, the leading banking city in Europe. The Dutch prospered from the Domestic industries of fishing, boat building, textiles and banking. The Dutch were also the most technologically advanced sailors in Europe.

The British and French demonstrate that a strong central power is necessary to maintain power on a world scale. The Republic doesn’t have this unity after William

The wars with France to the South and England to the West surround the Dutch. Document 6 shows the determination on the part of the British and French to dominate the Dutch, “the king of France will defray all expenses of the campaign by land,” and the “for the war at sea the king of England will arm at least 70 warships.” The Dutch Provinces’ size and location made it vulnerable to attack and economic challenges. Document 3 shows the losses suffered by the Dutch as compared to the British due mostly to the size of the Navy and the strategic location of England. In 1650 their economic power was extremely great compared to the Republic’s size and population. The Republic could not access the open ocean without passing England, who therefore could block all trading routes cutting off the majority of the Dutch economy and leaving them vulnerable to attack. To the south of the Republic the French waged wars, leaving the Dutch with no way to protect their country or their industries. The aggression towards

Some topics in this essay:
Dutch Republic, France England, Dutch Provinces’, British French, France China, France Dutch, Europe Dutch, William III, Baltic British, Republic French, dutch republic, domestic industries, william iii, size navy, wars france, france england, overseas markets, england france, technologically advanced, vulnerable attack,