Dutch Rvolt

The Dutch Revolution is a truly complicated aspect of early modern European history. The Netherlands was Spain’s meal ticket. Spain relied heavily upon the economic power that the Netherlands supplied them with. However, how is it that when the Dutch revolted that the much more powerful Spain could not defeat the cause? Spain was the most powerful state after the Renaissance in Europe. Yet the Dutch were able to successfully revolt against Spain because …

…unmentioned aspects playing crucial roles in its success. The Dutch gained independence by 1609 and were declared the Dutch Republic in 1648. Philip had the proverbial “golden egg” in the Low Countries. While the majority of Europe was suffering through a period characterized by crisis, the Netherlands was prospering economically and culturally. Philip made the fatal mistake of shooting himself in the foot, alienating and losing the only countries that were thriving economically, from which he benefited.