The Book Prize Index

Matters of Exchange: Commerce, Medicine, and Science in the Dutch Golden Age

Harold J. Cook

Presents evidence that Dutch commerce, not religion, inspired the rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries. Scrutinises many historical documents relating to the study of medicine and natural history during this era, showing direct links between commerce and trade, and the flourishing of scientific investigation.

HistoryHistory · high confidenceHistory81 signalsLlm Classifier: History -> HistoryGoogle Books: History -> HistoryKeyword Classifier: Business & Economics -> Business & EconomicsMedicine, Health & the BodyDisease, Epidemics & DrugsPublic Health Systems

Award History

1 wins · 2 total

AwardYearResultCategory / Notes
Pfizer Award: History of Science2009WinnerSecondary source
Cundill History PrizeMajor2008FinalistSecondary source
View all award history (2)
Experimental book profileGenerated by GPT-5.4 nano · may contain inaccuracies

This is an unverified interpretation of the catalog description, offered as an opt-in discovery experiment—not as bibliographic fact.

  1. 01 Central figures

    None extracted with sufficient confidence.

  2. 02 Central places

    None extracted with sufficient confidence.

  3. 03 Suggested argument

    Dutch commerce, not religion, inspired the rise of science in the 16th and 17th centuries, linking trade to the study of medicine and natural history.

    Model confidence 78%

  4. 04 Reading orientation

    55 / 100 academic

    Trade / academic crossover

    An estimate of intended readership and scholarly apparatus—not quality or importance.

Confidence percentages are the model's own estimates. Profile confidence: 74%.