Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Thirty Years War

    Uploaded by

    bcapaldi
    205 views15 pages
    The Thirty Years War began in 1618 as a local conflict over religious freedom in Bohemia but escalated into a general European war. The war was fought between Catholic and Protestant forces, with the Catholic Hapsburgs trying to suppress the Protestants and reassert control over the decentralized Holy Roman Empire. After 30 years of fighting that caused widespread death and destruction, the 1648 Peace of Westphalia established religious freedom for German states and independence for Netherlands and Switzerland, weakening the power of the Hapsburgs and Holy Roman Empire.

    Original Description:

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The Thirty Years War began in 1618 as a local conflict over religious freedom in Bohemia but escalated into a general European war. The war was fought between Catholic and Protestant forces, with the Catholic Hapsburgs trying to suppress the Protestants and reassert control over the decentralized Holy Roman Empire. After 30 years of fighting that caused widespread death and destruction, the 1648 Peace of Westphalia established religious freedom for German states and independence for Netherlands and Switzerland, weakening the power of the Hapsburgs and Holy Roman Empire.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    205 views15 pages

    Thirty Years War

    Uploaded by

    bcapaldi
    The Thirty Years War began in 1618 as a local conflict over religious freedom in Bohemia but escalated into a general European war. The war was fought between Catholic and Protestant forces, with the Catholic Hapsburgs trying to suppress the Protestants and reassert control over the decentralized Holy Roman Empire. After 30 years of fighting that caused widespread death and destruction, the 1648 Peace of Westphalia established religious freedom for German states and independence for Netherlands and Switzerland, weakening the power of the Hapsburgs and Holy Roman Empire.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 15

    The Thirty 

    Years 
    War

    The end of 
    the Holy 
    Roman 
    Empire
       
    Holy Roman Empire was actually several 
    hundred small states throughout Germany

       
       
    • Princes of each 
    state elected a 
    ruler but they 
    had no real 
    power and 
    were subject to 
    the Hapsburgs

       
    • King Ferdinand 
    of Bohemia 
    (Czech 
    Republic) had 
    tried to 
    suppress 
    Protestants in 
    his state
       
      Rebellious 
    Protestant 
    noblemen 
    tossed two 
    royal officials 
    out a castle 
    window in 
    Prague
       
       
    Ferdinand, the 
    Catholic 
    Hapsburg King 
    of Bohemia, 
    tries to 
    suppresses the 
    Protestants and 
    assert royal 
    power thereby 
        causing a revolt
    This revolt (local conflict) 
    becomes a general European War 

       
    • A year later Ferdinand is elected Holy 
    Roman Emperor

    • With support from Spain and Poland 
    (Catholic) he goes after Protestants all over 
    the Holy Roman Empire

    • Protestant Netherlands and Sweden send 
    troops to protect Protestants.

       
       
    The War
    • Terrible loss of life on both sides.

    • Mercenaries used on both sides.

    • Crops destroyed on purpose and by accident.

    • 1/3 of German civilians died.

       
       
    Peace at Last
    • Peace of Westphalia signed in 1648.

    • France gained lands in Germany and Spain.

    • Netherlands and Switzerland become independent.

    • Hapsburgs lose the Holy Roman Empire.

    • German states allowed to pick their own religion.
       
    Why Does it Matter?

    • Peace of Westphalia kept Germany weak and out 
    of power for the next 223 years.

    • Strengthened Protestantism all over Europe.

    • Got rid of the Holy Roman Empire.

       

    You might also like