The Thirty Years War

Agenda1. Bell Ringer: Why does Absolutism rise in Europe? What

defines an Absolute Ruler?2. Lecture: Central Europe and Thirty Years War3. Treaty of Westphalia Excerpt4. Map of Europe: The Thirty Years War5. Breakdown of the Thirty Years War Conflict6. Finish Chart on Absolute Rule7. Common Assessment

Objective: Students will identify characteristics of the Thirty Years War, and explain how it leads to Absolutism.

Thirty Years War• 1555 Peace of Augsburg

enacted after the wars in the Holy Roman Empire.

• Catholic princes in Germany stamped out remnants of Protestantism

• Breaks down in 1608.• Protestant v. Catholic.• Revolt breaks out in Bohemia

– Elect Protestant prince in an uprising.

• Catholic League of Princes aid in helping Ferdinand crush Bohemian revolt.

• Denmark, England, and the Dutch aid in Germany (Lutheranism)

• Catholic France with Richelieu join Protestants– Politics above religion.

Peace of Westphalia

• 1618-1648, Everyone finally gave up.

• Peace of Augsburg was restored in Germany.

• Religious co-existence• Germany hit hardest– 33% of population dies.

• Holy Roman Empire is reduced significantly.

Central Europe vs. The West

• Economics– Increasing production also

kept serfs under control of the aristocracy.

• Politics– Weak empires– Strong rulers result

• Maria Theresa takes over a conglomeration of ethnic groups within the Hapsburg Empire.

Prussia vs. Austria

• Hohenzollerns of Prussia vs. Hapsburgs of Austria.

• Frederick the Great would follow fathers policy to keep a strong military order.

• “A Father of the people.”• Prussia would take Silesia

in 1748.

Seven Years’ War• 1756-1763

– France, Austria, and Russia vs. Britain and Prussia.

• Nothing changed within Europe, however, Britain gained parts of India and North America.

• France was the loser here, losing most of its colonies in the West Indies and North America.

Why are they vulnerable?

• Built on societies that were poor.

• Always needed financial help from the West.

• Cannot overcome rulers attempting to abolish serfdom.

• Ethnic melting pot, harder to conquer people that can’t understand you.

Map Activity