Russell Shorto: New Netherland, New Amsterdam

The keynote address will be given by bestselling author, historian and journalist Russell Shorto, whose book The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America (2004) has led to a broad reconsideration of the early Dutch colonial period of New York City, State and surrounding areas.

[@Manoagrl]

I am fascinated by your presentation. My Ten Eyck ancestors settled New Amsterdam. But in California, my ancestors settled there, too... So much history! History needs to be respected!

[@TechWechSech]

Great lecture on an obscure part of history

[@dubravkatopic4726]

Great.. Have red book about Amsterdam. Love that city. Cant wait to reed other ones. And definitely would live to visit New York and the rest of US, tracing the history

[@somedude5951]

Great lecture. Not sure about the politics, but it was funny anyways. I would disagree with Dutch history from the early 1600's though. In this way, that these hidden Catholic churches where achieved after a while by the Catholics by protesting a lot. Initially, all Catholicism was prohibited, and was kept on being prohibited, more or less, until France invaded the Dutch republic in 1795. Until Napoleon Bonaparte, it was prohibited for Catholics to work at the Dutch government, and many of these anti-propaganda laws are still in place. In the Netherlands today, it is still prohibited for Catholics go to confession, keep their propaganda marched with Mary statues, but Catholics are increasing their power here every year. Bishop seats where installed in 1853. In my humble but educated opinion, it is a bit hard to understand the Dutch Republic and New Amsterdam, without taking in consideration, that the Netherlands was founded on expelling Catholicism from their country. In this regard, the Catholic King Charles II of England, who's father was beheaded by puritans, would take New Amsterdam, in order to fight Protestantism. People back than knew this, and the English puritans later made the Stadholder of of the Dutch Republic king, the protestant King William of Orange, and thus made it prohibited for Catholics to have a seat in Parliament, which is still that way today. Since England had not been invaded since then, it still is prohibited for Catholics to have a seat in British Parliament, or become King or Queen, just as it was in the Netherlands until 1795. So one can have a interesting story about fighting water that gives a character, but the theological backgrounds of this history may be more significant. Dutch tolerance was created by making Catholicism prohibited, while Catholicism tolerated nothing but their own state religion.