Amsterdam University Press Dangerous Drugs - Joannes Six van Chandelier - Amsterdam Studies

Explore the complex history of the Dutch Golden Age through the eyes of a 17th-century merchant-poet. In the 1600s, the Dutch Republic served as the global hub for the trade of exotic spices and drugs. These substances were prized as both essential medicines and luxury items for the growing bourgeois class, creating a unique sense of medical and moral anxiety within the Republic. This book examines how Joannes Six van Chandelier (1620-1695) navigated these tensions. As the owner of the Amsterdam drug shop 'The Gilded Unicorn,' Six used his poetry to address the ambivalent nature of exotic medicines. His work covers a wide range of substances, including musk, incense, theriac, Egyptian mumia, and even the blood of Charles I of England. Part of the Amsterdam Studies in the Dutch Golden Age series, this volume provides a deep look into the intersection of commerce, medicine, and literature. It is an essential resource for readers interested in the social history of trade and the cultural impact of exotic goods during one of history's most active mercantile eras.