Alessandra Rao
IDC4001H
Island at the Center of the World

I’ll start with the most unsurprising things I learned.

Throughout Chapter 5, it was mentioned several times that Manhattan was used as an important port for the West India Company. Given the fact that Manhattan is an island, it is only natural that its geographic conditions be used to open access to mainland New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states. Frequently traded goods were furs and tobacco, which is in almost every history textbook since the fourth grade. This chapter discussed that Manhattan was a breeding ground for entrepreneurs, which I found quite interesting. It does make sense, however, because earlier, the book discussed that the Dutch were against religious persecution, and that a strong state is one where freedom of religion is practiced. I also agree with the idea, in Chapter 5, that diversity is good for business. It just seems like common sense.

What surprised me most about chapter 5 were all the scientific discoveries that took place at the University of Leiden. However, the way the discoveries were taking place seemed incredibly aggressive and intrusive. Almost barbaric. Especially the way dogs were taken off the street and dissected by students and scientists.

What I found most surprising was van der Donck himself, and the fact that he was so young and considered an important figure of his time. He seems like an adventurous, free-spirited academic….but also shady. He’s the kind of guy I would study with or ask for directions, but I wouldn’t trust him with money. I was also surprised with the socioeconomic power of the University of Leiden, where scientists and writers from all over Europe came to publish their papers. It seemed like a revolutionary place that hosted a plethora of discoveries. It also served as a safe haven for those who wanted to practice freedom of the press, since much censorship was happening elsewhere in Europe during the period of Enlightenment. Holland in general seemed to play an important part in promoting freedom to intellectuals like Rene Descartes and Galileo, two great minds of the Enlightenment, so they can develop their intellectual philosophies and theories without being oppressed by authority.

There were a few things that confused me. Considering the Dutch were big on the idea of freedom, I found it odd how New Netherland’s political structure was not as developed. Kieft seemed to have an extraordinary amount of power (then again, he was a dictator): he was the judicial system and the military, according to chapter 6. I was also confused about Peter Minuit’s role in New Netherland.

And lastly, why were the Dutch so crazy about tulips?