England in the 1600s: The Beginning of England's Rise to Global Power and Wealth
INTRODUCTION In 1600, England had been an insular and agricultural nation, trading primarily with nearby northern Europe. By 1700, England’s commerce was complex and global, as London competed successfully with Amsterdam for American produce and Asian luxuries. Alan Taylor, American Colonies: The Settling of North America, 258. A theme that runs through this essay is the global maritime rivalry with Holland. England and Holland became global trade rivals in the 1600s. They fought three wars that weakened Holland, eliminating it as a naval rival. England’s main instrument in its rivalry with the Dutch in Asia was the English East India Company (EIC). In America and the West Indies, it was the Navigation Acts. By the end of the century, England had become a global maritime trading and naval power. The Dutch had lost out in the Americas but had established a vast trading network throughout Asia, cen...