Indonesia’s War For Independence From the Dutch Empire In 1940s Illuminated by ‘The East’ Movie

A 2020 Dutch war film, "The East," popped up on my recommendations to stream. It is set in the Dutch East Indies of 1946 during the Indonesian National Revolution, also known as the Indonesian War of Independence. A soldier, deployed to suppress post-WWII rebellion in Indonesia, finds himself torn between duty and conscience when he joins an elite …

What Was Life Like for the Pilgrims in England, the Netherlands, and Aboard the Mayflower?

Absolute History: "For many Americans, the journey of the Mayflower in 1620 symbolizes the birth of their nation. Led by William Bradford, the Pilgrim Fathers traversed the Atlantic to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in search of religious freedom. To this day, the Pilgrim Fathers are a glorified symbol of American virtue and Thanksgiving. In this film, we …

Run-away Inflation in History Has Wrecked Havoc. So Have Bubbles

Run-away or hyper-inflation has been one of the causes of political extremism and instability throughout history. Wikipedia offers a litany. Most famously, hyper-inflation sparked the rise of Nazism in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s, due in large part to the punishing terms the victors, especially France, imposed upon Germany in reparations for "starting" WWI. …

Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s Dominated European Trade, Science, Military, & Gave The World Magnificent Art

The Dutch Golden Age spanned mostly the 1600s. Its trade, science, military, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The Dutch Empire evolved into the modern kingdom of the Netherlands after 1815. John Green of Crash Course European History observes that "while the English were falling apart a little, with their civil war and their …

European Imperialism of 19th Century Was Closely Linked to Nationalism. Asians Eventually Revolted

Imperialism -- the policy or ideology of extending a nation's rule over foreign nations, often by military force or by gaining political and economic control of other areas -- was a common practice of European nations in Asia and Africa in the 19th century. This is closely related to nationalism -- citizens have such pride …

Rise of Capitalism and the Dutch East India Company

In this Crash Course lecture, John Green "teaches you about the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, doing business as the VOC, also known as the Dutch East India Company. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Dutch managed to dominate world trade, and they did all through the pioneering use of corporations and finance. Well, they did …

1700-2010 Comparing, Contrasting South African and US History

There has always been a feeling of kinship between the United States and South Africa. “I came here because of my deep interest and affection for a land settled by the Dutch in the mid-seventeenth century, then taken over by the British, and at last independent; a land in which the native inhabitants were at …