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Message:: [QUOTE="Any Jewelry, post: 4614497, member: 2844"]Absolutely true. Here in the Netherlands two things came together. As you say, the invention of the bookpress and spread of information, thoughts, ideas.But also the formation of a new political union, based on earlier developments (inventions, philosophy, arts), and on a conflict with a stubborn, distant king. It was a political union of convenience and struggle against a mutual enemy. Culture in the Netherlands is mostly defined by geological circumstances (moors etc) and geographical barriers. The most important barrier being the "big rivers", Rhine, Meuse, and others that flow alongside each other to the sea, dividing the country in a very distinct north and south. The cultural isolation of certain other, very specific, regions is shown by the fact that there are so many different types of traditional dress. Differences which interestingly also find their origin in the 16th century.[/QUOTE]