The paper examines the discourse used by the VOC to describe the Shimabara Rebellion 1637-1638 (a rebellion with socio-economic reasons and strong Christian influences) and its own encounter with...Show moreThe paper examines the discourse used by the VOC to describe the Shimabara Rebellion 1637-1638 (a rebellion with socio-economic reasons and strong Christian influences) and its own encounter with Asian Christians during the Rebellion. The paper makes use of the Dagregisters of Hirado as primary sources to examine the changes in the used discourse. The paper shows that the changes in the discourse created a narrative that was best suited for the situation. The changes also show the difficulty the VOC had in positioning itself during the conflict. On the one hand, the Asian Christians were Catholic enemies, but on the other hand they were fellow Christians fighting non-Christians. The most distinct discourse change happened after the VOC offered its assistance in stopping the rebellion. After which the VOC completely removes the Christian element of the rebellion in their texts, while they had first focused on it.Show less
This thesis looks at the role and usage of colonial archival documents in the knowledge production of the eighteenth-century Dutch East India Company (VOC), through a case study of the Overgekomen...Show moreThis thesis looks at the role and usage of colonial archival documents in the knowledge production of the eighteenth-century Dutch East India Company (VOC), through a case study of the Overgekomen Brieven en Papieren (OBP) of the regional establishment of Malabar. By looking at documentary practices regarding the OBP, conceptualised as an early modern colonial archive, this research traces its epistemic potential through several stages: creation and selection on the Malabar Coast, dispersion through the information network of the company and dissection by the Haags Besogne. The findings presented here show that the epistemic potential of the OBP was eroded in every stage and only partially actualised by company officials in the Dutch Republic. In line with recent studies on early modern colonial archives, this thesis raises scepticism towards the equation of knowledge and empire through colonial archives, but offers new arguments and explanations for doing so.Show less
This thesis is focussed around the question of what the maritime cultural landscape of Dutch Mauritius can tell us about the island's roles and significance in the Dutch overseas expansion (1598...Show moreThis thesis is focussed around the question of what the maritime cultural landscape of Dutch Mauritius can tell us about the island's roles and significance in the Dutch overseas expansion (1598-1710). The curious contrast between the great gap that exists in colonial and maritime historiography concerning Dutch Mauritius and the fact that the VOC had a dominant presence on the island for over a century has been the main reason to dive into this question. While leaning on the archaeological concept of Westerdahl’s maritime cultural landscape by analysing the elements of geography, structures and sailing routes, and by complementing this landscape through historic research into the elements of maritime knowledge and European competition, this thesis shows that Mauritius was more important to the Dutch overseas expansion in the Indian Ocean than was previously thought.Show less
This thesis examined a largely unknown era (1680-1860) in the history of North Sulawesi. A revised model of the social history of the region has been proposed on the basis of the VOC ...Show moreThis thesis examined a largely unknown era (1680-1860) in the history of North Sulawesi. A revised model of the social history of the region has been proposed on the basis of the VOC 'visitatierapporten'. By focusing on how Christianity altered the social and political structures of the region (gender, social class, educational institutions, chiefly patronage networks), this thesis has demonstrated that it is possible to reconstruct the 'internal' history of North Sulawesi, in spite of a scarcity of local historical sources. Significant findings include 1) the social fluidity of 'class' in North Sulawesi societies, 2) the fact that Christianity was not limited to elite classes, as had hitherto been thought and 3) that (some) women transformed their former role as 'animist' religious specialists to roles of prominence within the Christian community.Show less
In deze studie wordt, door middel van een vergelijking tussen de VOC-kolonie op Ceylon en de WIC-nederzetting in Brazilië, onderzocht welke invloed ziekte en het gezondheidsbeleid had op de...Show moreIn deze studie wordt, door middel van een vergelijking tussen de VOC-kolonie op Ceylon en de WIC-nederzetting in Brazilië, onderzocht welke invloed ziekte en het gezondheidsbeleid had op de ontwikkeling van beide compagnieën.Show less
I believe the importance of Japanese mercenaries and recruited civilians for the VOC cannot be forgotten in the debate about the establishment of Dutch power in the Indonesian Archipelago....Show moreI believe the importance of Japanese mercenaries and recruited civilians for the VOC cannot be forgotten in the debate about the establishment of Dutch power in the Indonesian Archipelago. Certainly not in the 21st century, in which we question issues like colonialism and imperialism. My main question will be: ‘What difference did the Japanese mercenaries and recruited Japanese civilians make to the VOC during their establishment of power in the Indonesian Archipelago between 1609-1641?’Show less
Het handelsnetwerk van de Basay strekte zich uit over het noorden van Taiwan. Deze bevolkingsgroep had zich toegelegd op de nijverheid en verhandelde hun producten met zowel Taiwanese dorpen als...Show moreHet handelsnetwerk van de Basay strekte zich uit over het noorden van Taiwan. Deze bevolkingsgroep had zich toegelegd op de nijverheid en verhandelde hun producten met zowel Taiwanese dorpen als Chinese handelaren. De komst van de Spanjaarden en hun kolonie in 1626 verstoorde de activiteiten van de Basay enigszins, maar na enkele jaren ontstonden relatief stabiele banden met de nieuwkomers. Veel Basay bekeerden zich tot het Christendom en leerden Spaans. In 1642 veroverde de VOC de Spaanse kolonie, maar was al snel toegewezen op de Basay voor haar voorziening van voedsel. Daarnaast vervulden de Basay een tal van diensten voor de VOC, zoals het innen van belasting, begeleiden van expedities en het vervoeren van compagniepersoneel in de regio. Binnen deze rol als tussenpersoon hadden de Basay een hoge mate van autonomie. Basay, vertegenwoordigd door hun dorpshoofden, hadden een sterke onderhandelingspositie en konden hun eigen doelen bepalen en navolgen, in sommige gevallen zelfs ten koste van de VOC. Aan de andere kant waren de Basay geen homogene groep: dorpshoofden en tolken konden hun dorpsgenoten links laten liggen en zelfverrijking voorop stellen. Van hun kant zagen de dienaren van de VOC de Basay als diverse groep. Het waren mondige Spaanse christenen die slim hun kennis en connecties benuttigden.Show less
