THREE / Capitalism and Cartography in Amsterdam

Published maps of Amsterdam during its Golden Age not only documented the city's economic expansion but also reflected and reinforced contemporary humanist ideals about property, governance, and civic duty. A key focus on the Beemster Polder project reveals how these maps visually established Amsterdam as a global emporium while embedding capitalist principles into the cultural and legal fabric of the young Dutch nation. The study argues that cartography during this period was instrumental in shaping perceptions of land ownership, industry, and the relationship between citizens and the state, all of which were driven by capitalist expansionism.

Sutton, E. A. (2015). THREE / Capitalism and Cartography in Amsterdam. Capitalism and Cartography in the Dutch Golden Age, 43–72. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226254814.003.0003