Dutch Golden Age: Trade vs Territorial Empire (1602)
by Anonymous
The Dutch chose to build a trading empire through the VOC (Dutch East India Company) rather than conquering vast territories like Spain and Portugal. Trading posts instead of colonies maximized profit with minimal military cost.
Trading Empire (VOC)
1602
year
Trading posts, monopoly agreements, joint-stock company
imperial model
Low military overhead, high profits
cost
Chosen — Dutch became richest nation per capita in Europe
outcome
Territorial Empire
1602
year
Conquer and administer large territories
imperial model
Enormous military and administrative expense
cost
Not chosen — Spain's model was bankrupting it
outcome
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