Netherlands

Author: China Central Television Station, "The Rise of a Great Nation" Program Group
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Located in Northwestern Europe, the small country of the Netherlands, which is only half the size of two and a half Beijings, started its business as a middleman by catching herring in the wetlands and lakes where tides appeared. They designed cheaper ships, relying on their advantageous geographical location and good commercial reputation, gradually transforming from middlemen into warriors of long-distance navigation. The increasingly prosperous Dutch citizens bought the autonomy of the city from the nobles and established a federal republic that fully protected the rights of merchants. They founded the world's earliest joint-stock company—the Dutch East India Company. They monopolized half of the global trade at that time. They built the world's first stock exchange, giving birth to the capital market. They pioneered the establishment of modern banks and invented the credit system that is still in use today. ..With the establishment of a series of modern financial and commercial systems, the 17th century became the century of the Netherlands. Due to natural shortcomings such as land area and population, by the late 17th century, the Netherlands gradually lost its hegemonic power over the world. But even today, the Dutch people still live a prosperous life, and the business rules they created continue to influence the world... The entire book takes the Netherlands as the subject of interpretation, showcasing the country's journey to becoming a strong nation at different periods. It is mainly divided into ten parts: Water Disaster, City, Herring, Monarchy, War, Freedom, Expansion, Hegemony,, and Decline.