By Lap Kan AU, PhD student, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)
Abstract: This paper examines Hans Putmans’ interpretation of vrijen handel (free trade) within the framework of the Dutch East India Company, contrasting it with the Ming Empire’s tributary system. The study argues that Putmans’ concept of vrijen handel must be understood in the context of the early seventeenth century. Only through this historical lens can we fully grasp the ideological conflict between vrijen handel and the tributary system, as well as its role in precipitating the Battle of Liaoluo Bay in 1633. The significance of this research lies in its potential to reshape our understanding of early modern trade interactions, offering new insights into how ideological conflicts shape trade practices and historical events. By analyzing these interactions, the study deepens our comprehension of VOC-Ming trade relations within the broader context of colonial expansion
Keywords: vrijen handel, free trade, Battle of Liaoluo Bay, tributary system, Ming Empire, Dutch East India Company, VOC, vrijhandel, Mare Liberum
Edited by Birgit Schneider
Special thanks to the anonymous peer reviewers.
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© 2025 The Middle Ground Journal (ISSN: 2155-1103) Number 28, Fall 2024/Winter 2025 http://TheMiddleGroundJournal.org
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