In the course of break-down of feudalism, we can observe a critical phenomenon of ruralization of industries, especially in Flanders and in England, later in France and the Rhineland, too. But in Holland--and here alone in West Europe--the rural industries were entirely annihilated in their infancy. In this article it is intended to detect a specificum in her economic development which caused this difference. Holland emerged towards the end of 14th century as one of the influencial trading countries, taking advantage of her geographical position where the main traffic route between the Baltic-Norwegian area and West-South Europe, on the other hand between England and West Germany via the Rhine crossed ; furious struggle against the Hanseatic League who had hegemony in trade lasted for two centuries. But Holland won at last, provided with better productive fundament : the herring and cod fisheries in the North Sea, the nursery of her crews and ship-building for her carrying trade. Not only the important trading cities such as Amsterdam, Hoorn, Enkhuizen, Dordrecht or Rotterdam but also small towns and village took part in these foreign trades. And in some inland cities (Leyden, Delft, Haarlem and Gouda) exporting industries of woollen manufacture and beer brewery prospered thanks to her commercial expansion. But in the beginning of 16th century there came a blow upon Holland's economy. Wars and blockades of commerce deprived her of out-let of her industrial products and foreign trade. The cities now pressed Charles V, ruler of the Netherlands and German Emperor, in an attempt to monopolize the rural market, and he could not help admitting their demand in exchange of recognition of new quota of taxes, in spite of strong opposition of nobles and manorial lords. Thus the cities obtained an edict of Emperor to prohibit weaving, leather-tanning and house-construction or illegal tappers and bakers in their direct neighbourhood (De ordre op de buitenneringen in 1531) and furthermore by means of particular letters patent of Emperor or through the purchase of manors nearby they could stop the development in the rural industries. After the Independence War industries were again restored in the cities, and rural industries disappeared or degenerated in a element of traffic industries owing to an unprecedent prosperity of Dutch staple market. It was this special economic structure dependent on the carrying trade which made the rural industries difficult to unfold and the cities strong enough to suppress them.
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