ABSTRACT
The main aim of this study is to investigate the role of the VOC fleet and the organisation of shipping in the development of the VOC in Asia during the 17th century. As described in Chapter 2, the inconsistent terminology used to describe the various vessel types can create confusion about the characteristics of specific vessels. To understand the role of these vessels, a number of categories were developed covering features that contributed to the organisation of the VOC in Asia. In this chapter the rationale for these categories is explained.
