The Origins and Development of the Dutch Revolt

by Graham Darby (Editor)

The Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the sixteenth century was a formative event in European history. The Origins and Development of the Dutch Revolt brings together in one volume the latest scholarship from leading experts in the field, to illuminate why the Dutch revolted, the way events unfolded and how they gained independence. In exploring the desire of the Dutch to control their own affairs, it also questions whether Dutch identity came about by accident.
The book makes the most recent research available in English for the first time, focusing
* the role of the aristocracy
* religion
* the towns and provinces
* the Spanish perspective
* finance and ideology.

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2001

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work represents the "latest scholarship" on the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the 16th century; a collection of academic essays on various aspects of the struggle. Beginning with a useful, if short, narrative of events and overview of recent historiography, the book examines the role of the aristocracy, religion, the towns and provinces, the Spanish strategic perspective, finance and ideology. While I learned a lot, I feel that I would have been better served by making my first book on the topic a narrative history, such as Geoffrey Parker's work The Dutch Revolt," which I might have read if it were in print. There's plenty of interesting information here, but it's not what you'd call a ripping great read, and I think that it should probably be the 2nd book you read on this fascinating struggle in early modern Europe.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains information about privileges, placards, noble "Beggars" and the influence of their Protestant wives, and the events of the Wonderyear (1566) including the traumatic iconoclasm! It was published by Routledge and is therefore unreasonably expensive. A small 175-page paperback should not cost $40.