Ethnic category

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An "ethnic category" is a category set up by outsiders, that is, those who are not themselves members of the category, and whose members are populations that are categorized by outsiders as being distinguished by attributes of a common name or emblem, a shared cultural element and a connection to a specific territory. But, members who are ascribed to ethnic categories do not themselves have any awareness of their belonging to a common, distinctive group.

  • Language; Old Dutch (500 CE); Middle Dutch (1150 CE)
  • Religion; Christianity [add. Arnoutf: Emergence of Christianity is perhaps better, population was largely pagan until far in the 8th century]
  • Common ancestry; Franks, natives prior to Frankish settlement. (Germanic, upon Celtic, upon Pre-Celtic elements) [add. Iblardi: note that Franks are a confederation of largely autochthonous tribes]
  • Cultural traits;
  • Political organization; Tribal villages / Germanic Kings / Vassal lord
  • Landscape; Aquatic (marine/fluvial) lowland agriculture.
  • Identification; Local/regional.
  • Economy; Local agricultural exchange. [add. Iblardi: not exclusively so, see Dorestad and Frisian trade]
  • Mobility; exclusively local. [add. Arnoutf: Similar as above, not exclusively; "mainly" or even "predominantly" probably better]
  • [add. Iblardi: common exonym not evidenced for this period]

Ethnic network

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At the level of "ethnic networks", the group begins to have a sense of collectiveness, and at this level, common myths of origin and shared cultural and biological heritage begins to emerge, at least among the élites.

  • Language; Middle Dutch (1150 CE) / Early Modern Dutch (1500 CE).
  • Political organization; Feudalism (800 CE), (emerging) cities. (1000/1100 CE) [Iblardi: note that feudalisation was comparatively weak in the north/north-east (Frisians, Drents) and west (Holland)]
  • Cultural traits;
  • Emerging disregard of authority/nobility; [add. Iblardi: emerging bourgeoisie and lay culture, esp. in Flanders]
  • Hook and Cod wars (Holland/Zeeland)
  • Lichtenbergers and Fresingen (Utrecht),
  • Schieringers and Vetkopers (Groningen/Frisia)
  • Klauwaerts and Leliaerts (Flanders)
  • Heeckerens and Bronckhorsten (Guelders)
  • Political organization/Landscape;
  • Polders, requiring extensive cooperation/organization. (c. 1000 CE)
  • Creation of Waterschappen (from c. 1200). Cooperation for the grater good enforced; includes a role for local communities not only nobility.
  • Common Origin Theory; Batavian myth [add. Iblardi: since early 16th century; claimed by Holland as well as Guelders]
  • Religion; Christianity/Catholicism (c. 750 CE), Protestantism (1550 CE).
  • Homeland thought
  • Economy; Regional agricultural trading. Consumer goods in cities. [add. Iblardi: membership Hanseatic League in 15th century (IJssel region)]
  • Identification; regional/general.
  • Mobility; regional.

Ethnic community

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At the level of "ethnies" or "ethnic communities", the members themselves have clear conceptions of being "a named human population with myths of common ancestry, shared historical memories, and one or more common elements of culture, including an association with a homeland, and some degree of solidarity, at least among the élites". That is, an ethnie is self-defined as a group, whereas ethnic categories are set up by outsiders whether or not their own members identify with the category given them.

  • Language; Early Modern Dutch / Modern Dutch c. (1750 CE).
  • Political organization; Provinces (1550 CE) / States (c. 1600 CE) [Add Arnoutf. I would suggest something like a "federal republic" as organisation from c. 1600-1795)
  • Cultural traits; Calvinist sobriety and directness (bluntness) become recognised by other nations (esp English)
  • Economy;
  1. Textile trade / domestic agriculture; limited participation in Hanseatic League. (outside agricultural/raw material trade)
  2. Extensive marine trade + depending industries / Textile / domestic agriculture.
  3. Industrial economy.
  4. (1600-1950) Colonialism -> Spice trade, earhtware/porcelain imports, Slave trade [Add Arnoutf. I am not sure phrasing is right, but I think we have to do something with this)
  • Identification; general/regional.
  • Common Origin Theory; Tri-tribal myth (c. 1880) / Historical (local) ancestry. (c. 1950 CE)
  • Religion; Christianity/Catholicism (c. 750 CE), Protestantism (1550 CE).
  • Mobility; national /ultra-national (colonization). [Add Arnoutf. : Probably even "global" would correctly describe Dutch mobility in this era.]