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Holland was once a superpower upon whose empire the sun never set. Today it is on the leading edge of social change. This history of Holland, from its earliest beginnings to the present day, provides the most up-to-date survey of modern Dutch history, including the current Dutch approach to a number of social issues, such as the welfare state, the environment, socialized medicine, and the role of the military in the post-Cold War world. Containing a wealth of current information and statistics, this work will help the reader to understand the Dutch both within the historical context in which Holland exists and as world leaders in social change as we approach the twenty-first century.
This engagingly written history provides a contemporary overview of Holland's geography, economy, political system, and society. Chapters arranged chronologically trace the history and culture of the nation from the Ice Age to the new post-Cold War world. Chapters on recent Dutch history show how Holland has claimed a leading role in social change: the Dutch have authorized euthanasia, socialized medicine, and legalized soft drugs. A selection of brief biographical sketches will introduce the reader to many of the important Dutch personalities throughout Holland's history, and a bibliographical essay will help the researcher to locate recommended books and other materials for further reading.
List of contents
Series Foreword
Timeline of Historical Events
The Contemporary Nation: An OverviewGeography
The Economy
The Political System
Society
The History of the NationFrom the Ice Age to the Middle Ages
Reformation, Rebellion, and the Republic
The Union and the Golden Age
The Colonies
Constitutional Democracy
War, Crisis, and Recovery
The Rise and Fall of the Welfare State
The New Society
The New, Post-Cold War World
Biographies
Appendix
Bibliographic Essay
Bibliography of Translations of Works by Twentieth-Century Dutch Authors
Index
About the author
Mark T. Hooker
Summary
This history of Holland, from its earliest beginnings to the present day, provides the most up-to-date survey of modern Dutch history, including the current Dutch approach to a number of social issues, such as the welfare state, the environment, socialized medicine, and the role of the military in the post-Cold War world.
