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Charles V, King of Spain becomes the ruler of the territories that would become the Dutch Republic. King Charles inherited the territories from a relative, was not Dutch, and was Catholic - a different religion than the Dutch people (they were Protestant).
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A Dutch Noble, William the Silent, leads a Protestant revolt against the Catholic Spanish monarchy.
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The Dutch move their capital to Amsterdam, an important shipping port and trade hub for the rest of Europe. The Dutch begin to grow wealthy through international trade. They extend their trade network around Europe and into the Mediterranean Sea.
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The Dutch Republic declares independence from Spain in 1581.
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The Dutch create colonies in West Africa called the Dutch Gold Coast. They begin to trade across the Atlantic Ocean with Brazil. The Dutch also travel to the Indian Ocean and engage in the lucrative Spice Trade. The Dutch use the same route as the Portuguese, bringing the two empires into conflict.
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The Dutch conduct their first Spice Trade voyage. They make a 400% profit, motivating further expansion of their empire.
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The Dutch East Indian Company is founded to control all of the trade routes from Africa to Indonesia. They are given legal authority to wage wars, found colonies, create armies and navies, and sign treaties.
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The Dutch West Indian Company is founded to control all of the trade routes in the Atlantic Ocean, including North and South America. They are given the same privileges as the East Indian Company.
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Spain finally recognizes the independence of the Dutch.
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The Dutch systematically conquer Portuguese settlements in Asia, in places like Indonesia, Japan, and India.
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The Dutch agree to leave Brazilian trade in South America to the Portuguese, and the Portuguese pay the Dutch 63 tons of gold.
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The Dutch lose a war with England in North America and lose their American colonies, including New Amsterdam, which gets renamed New York.
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The Dutch William of Orange ascends to the English throne, ending a long rivalry between the Dutch and English.
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The French Revolutionary Army conquers the Dutch Republic. The other European empires scramble claim the former Dutch colonies in Africa and Asia. While the Dutch eventually regain independence and become the Netherlands, their former empire quickly dissolves.
