2.2 Culture and society in the Republic

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Culture and society in
the Republic

paragraaf 2.2

Poor and rich

Not everyone benifited from the prosperity during the Golden Age. 

Rich people only got richer, and poor people didn't really notice that is was a 'Golden Age'. 

Still, the Republic was the richest country in Europe and there was a lot of work. This lead to a lot of migration. 

Golden Age?

“The Golden Age is  an important subject of interest in western history. It is strongly linked to the pride we feel about our country", says Tom van der Molen, conservator at the Amsterdam Museum.  “However, positive associations with words such as prosperity, peace, wealth and innocence are not the truth. The word Golden Age ignores a lot of negative sides to the 17th century, such as poverty, war, slavery and trade in people. 

Source: NRC, 2018. 

Source: NOS, september 2019

Source: Utrecht University, History Department 

Do you agree that there is a discussion about the usage of the term Golden Age?

Agree

Disagree

Do you agree we should not call it Golden Age at all anymore?

Agree

Disagree

Think of an argument people could use to stick to the word Golden Age.

Think of an argument people could use to disregard the word Golden Age.

Migration

The migration to the Republic had two main reasons:

1. Economic: people wanted to work
   
2. Culturally: people were persecuted in their own country for their beliefs and wanted freedom of conscience 

A lot of cities that flourished during the Golden Age are in the west. Give an explanation for this.

Which conclusion can you draw from the video abou the Republic?

1. There were to few people in the Republic
2. There were a lot of migrants in the Republic
3. There were too many migrants in the Republic
4. People had issues with the migrants in the Republic

What was NOT a reason for people to migrate to the Republic?

1. War
2. Work
3. Religion
4. The weather

What did migrants mainly contribute to?

1. The economy
2. The infrastructure
3. Industry
4. Racism

How do we call protestants from France fleeing to the Republic?

1. Hugonezen
2. Hagenezen
3. Hagenoten
4. Hugenoten

Which people lived in Amsterdam?

1. Only calvinists
2. Calvinists and jews
3. Calvinists, jews and catholics
4. Jews and catholics

Culture and society in 
the Republic

paragraph 2.2

Do you know any paintings from the Golden Age?

Art in the Golden Age

The wealth in the Republic also caused art and architecture to flourish. Example: the canal belt in Amsterdam.

A lot of people wanted to show off their wealth
by decorating their houses with paintings.
The demand for paintings was high, so a lot
of people started painting.

Which people do you think bought paintings in the Golden Age?

1. The super rich
2. Rich people
3. Rich people and nobility
4. Almost everyone

Who bought art in the rest of Europe?

1. The poor
2. Christians
3. Farmers
4. The nobility

How many people would have lived (approximately) in the Republic in the 17th century?

1. 200 000
2. 2 million
3. 10 million
4. 20 million

Religion and science

The Republic was very tolerant =

sympathy for beliefs differing from their own

Because of this, a lot of scientists and philosophers moved to the Republic. They could not publicise their ideas in their own country. 

De microscope of Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

The pendulum of Christiaan Huygens

Spinoza critised superstition and miracles from the Bible

Practical Assignment!

Open the document on your laptop and read the assignment QUIETLY for 5 minutes.