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"Lest it be conquered by the wind": The Early Evolution of VOC Fortifications on Dutch Formosa (c. 1620-1650).

  • Published In: Journal of Military History, 2025, v. 89, n. 2. P. 281 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: van der Tier, Geert; Mostert, Tristan 3 of 3

Abstract

Fort Zeelandia is prominent in debates about European fortress design and the establishment of European power overseas. Some argue that Zeelandia confirms notions of a specific European military advantage in the early modern period. Yet the evolution of Zeelandia's design has been insufficiently studied in this context. This paper uses archival sources on Dutch Formosa to examine the construction of Zeelandia and the other colonial forts on southwestern Formosa up to c. 1650 and contextualizes developments in colonial fort-building by the VOC throughout Asia. It delineates a shift away from European convention towards a style better adjusted to local demands, which requires reconsideration of the terms of the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Military History. 2025/04, Vol. 89, Issue 2, p281
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0899-3718
  • Accession Number:183937402
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Military History is the property of Society for Military History and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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