In the shadow of the company : the VOC (Dutch East India Company) and its servants in the period of its decline (1740-1796)

Author(s):
Nierstrasz, J.C.
Published
2008
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

The relationship between the VOC (Dutch East India Company) and its servants fundamentally changed with its decline (1740-1796). The changing circumstances of the eighteenth century demanded too much of the VOC. The solution to these new demands was not sought in new capitalization from Europe, but in a combination of cutbacks on activities in Asia and augmented usage of servants’ fortunes. The domains the VOC retreated from were filled by privileges to the servants. As the VOC depended more on its servants during its decline, the balance of power between them shifted in favour of the servants. This change in balance demanded more of the servants, forcing them to organize themselves differently to meet the new challenges. In the end, this change of perspective makes the development much more comparable to the changes the English East India Company went through, and provides a new perspective on changes in the position of the EIC-servants in the period around Plassey (1757).

European Expansion in AsiaVOCPrivate tradeFortunesCorruptionRemunerationNetworksEICIndiaCeylon
Defense date
2008-11-05
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Blusse van Oud-Alblas, J.L
Advisor(s)
Gaastra, F.S.
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/13267

Juridical information

Court
LEI Universiteit Leiden

Funding

Sponsorship
TANAP