Power and Urban Space in Pre-Modern Holland: Arenas of Appropriation in the Netherlands, 1500-1850

This study explores the power relations between social classes in pre-modern Holland by examining the appropriation of physical space and discursive strategies. It focuses on housing, public executions, civic militias, riots, and revolts, and analyzes city descriptions, maps, and pictures to reveal insights into the appropriation of urban spaces.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Cities and urban societies exhibit a multifaceted nature, with a rich tapestry of diverse faces. In this scholarly exploration, we delve into the pre-modern cities of Holland, presenting them as vibrant arenas where power relations between social classes manifest through a persistent appropriation of physical space and discursive strategies. The enduring continuity of power relations in these cities spanning centuries underscores the urgent need to examine not only the assumption of urban space as an expression of societal power dynamics but also its contribution to the acceptance and perpetuation of pre-modern Holland's power structures. Within this expansive domain, we pay meticulous attention to various aspects. Firstly, we explore the prominent and enduring appropriation of urban space in the realm of housing, where the spatial arrangements reflect and reinforce social hierarchies. Secondly, we examine the less permanent, yet violent, appropriation of urban space during public executions of scaffold punishments, where the city's streets become sites of brutal spectacle. Thirdly, we examine the role of civic militias in maintaining public order, ensuring the stability of the social order. Lastly, we scrutinize the appropriation of urban spaces during riots and revolts, where the tensions between different groups and classes are expressed through the physical transformation of urban landscapes. Additionally, we analyze city descriptions, maps, and visual depictions of pre-modern Holland's cities to uncover insights into the appropriation of urban spaces. While these themes have been extensively studied in their respective historiographies, they have yet to be integrated within an interpretive framework that aligns with Pierre Bourdieu's sociological model and the insightful work of scholars like John Allen on power. By bringing these themes together, we aim to shed new light on the complex dynamics of power and space in pre-modern Holland, contributing to a deeper understanding of urban societies and their historical development.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350412378