Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

What does the term "urban merchant class" refer to in the context of 17th-century Netherlands?

1. A group focused on agricultural innovations

2. Wealthy individuals engaged in trade and commerce

3. Artists and intellectuals of the period

4. The nobility residing outside the cities

The correct answer is: Wealthy individuals engaged in trade and commerce

The term "urban merchant class" in the context of 17th-century Netherlands specifically refers to wealthy individuals engaged in trade and commerce. During this period, especially in the Dutch Golden Age, the Netherlands experienced significant economic prosperity driven by maritime trade, banking, and the rise of unprecedented commercial enterprises. This merchant class was instrumental in the thriving economy of the time, operating in major trading cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Their wealth not only stemmed from traditional trade but also from involvement in the newly emerging global trading networks, which included trade with Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The success of this class led to increased political and cultural influence, contributing to the flourishing of arts and science, as many merchants became patrons of artists and thinkers. The other options do not accurately reflect the role or characteristics of the urban merchant class during this period. The focus on agricultural innovations represents a different socioeconomic group, primarily rural landowners or farmers. Artists and intellectuals, while prominent in the 17th-century Netherlands, were not the defining feature of the urban merchant class as their wealth came from different sources. Lastly, the nobility residing outside the cities belonged to a different social stratum that was less involved in the commercial activities that characterized the urban merchant class.