Nunc Agenda: Last group will
perform Peter the Great skit

While the rulers of France, Spain, and Russia ruled
absolutely, Central Europe was not there yet by the
1500s and 1600s

The Holy Roman Empire ruled over much of Central
Europe, but in reality, the Emperor had very little power
since he was elected by the many German princes of
his empire.
France =
Politically
United
Holy
Roman
Empire =
Politically
Divided

The Protestant Reformation, which began in the HRE,
started religious divisions between Protestants and
Catholics.
Spain=
Religiously
United
Holy
Roman
Empire =
Religiously
Divided

The Habsburg family ruled the HRE since the 1450s,
and they were Catholic, supported by the Pope.
Charles V
The one
who gave
up the job
Ferdinand I
Brother of
Charles who
took over for
him

In the city of Prague in Bohemia
(modern Czech Republic),
Catholic Ruler Ferdinand wanted
more political and religious
power over Protestant Nobles


Ferdinand ordered that two
Protestant Churches be
SHUT DOWN, but when the
royal officials arrived, the
Protestant Nobles threw
them out a window into a
pile of horse poop!
“Defenestration of Prague”
This event sparked a revolt,
and as each side tried to
find other European powers
to be their allies, the conflict
became bigger and bigger.

At first, the war was
Catholic VS
Protestant. Catholic
countries like
Spain, Austria, and
Poland supported
the Habsburg
Emperor and
gained many
Habsburg victories
against the rebel
Protestant German
states.

However,
Protestant
countries, like
Sweden,
Denmark, and
England joined
to help the
Protestant side,
and began to
defeat the
Habsburgs.

Even France, a
Catholic
country, joined
to help the
Protestants, but
for political
reasons. France
wanted to
weaken their
Habsburgs
rivals so it could
be the strongest
in Europe.




Germany was hurt the most
from the war, since most
fighting happened there.
Mercenary soldiers were
violent and destructive,
burning homes and fields
Depopulation: Several
million Germans (about 1/3)
died not just from battle but
from disease and starvation.
Wolves were seen roaming
the streets, and some people
turned to cannibalism!



War ended in 1648 with
the Peace of Westphalia
treaty
Big Losers = Habsburgs:
German princes given
independence from the
Holy Roman emperor
Big Winners = France:
given extra land from
Germany and Spain

Big Change = Europe now a collection of several
independent states, religious differences between
Catholic and Protestant states now accepted