Thirty Year’s War Maria Theresa Frederick the Great Seven Years War

Rulers in Central Europe never became Absolute monarchs

Holy Roman Empire had a single emperor

Covered most of Central Europe› Empire had dozens

of small states› Each with own ruler

1450’s All Holy Roman Emperors came from the Hapsburg family

1600’s Hapsburg emperor caused the Thirty Years War

Alliances cause it to be a continent wide affair

Religious dispute in 1618

Two Protestant churches were ordered to shut down

Protestants threw the emperor’s representatives out the palace window

They were unhurt

Emperor’s attempt to control religion sparked revolt

Nobles in Bavaria and Austria rebelled

Joined by other rulers

Monarch in Spain were members of the Hapsburg joined Ferdinand’s side

During the first 12 years Hapsburg armies crushed troops of Protestant princes

Put down Czech uprising

Defeated German Protestants

Army destroyed everything in its path

Gustavus of Sweden shifted the tide

Drove Hapsburg out of northern Germany

Cardinal Richelieu and Mazarin dominated remaining years of the war

Did not want European leaders to have as much power as French King

France, Spain’s rival joined the Protestant side

Denmark and Sweden Also on Protestant side

War lasted till 1648 7 million Germans died Trade and agriculture

ruined Disease and starvation

Treaty of Westphalia ended the war

Weakened the Hapsburg family

Strengthened France by awarding German territory

Ended religious wars in Europe

Introduced new method of negotiations to settle wars

Serfs in western Europe slowly won their freedom

Joined middle class townspeople

Central Europe imposed laws restricting serfs from gaining freedom

Wanted serfs to produce large harvests

Landowning nobles blocked development of strong kings

No strong ruler to unify the state

Ottoman empire weakened

Holy Roman Empire weakened from 30 Year’s War

Austria governed by the Hapsburg family

Prussia’s rulers came from Hohenzollerns

1740 Charles V died without an heir (HRE)

Wrote the Pragmatic Sanction-empire could be passed to a female

Maria Theresa was his daughter seemed she would take the throne

Hohenzollerans had different ideas

Frederick the Great seized Austria Province of Silesia

Offered Maria Theresa an alliance

Would help her husband become Holy Roman Emperor

Maria Theresa turned him down

War of Austrian succession broke out

Spain, France and two German states entered on Prussia’ side

Each hoped to gain territory

Maria Theresa asked for peace

Prussia kept Silesia launching it to position of power

When he and a friend were caught stealing

Frederick I made his son watch his friends beheading

Frederick II› Religious tolerance› Legal reform› Ruler should be a

father to his people

Prussia’s victory intensified rivalry with Austria and Hungary

1756 Seven Year’s War

Prussia ruled by Frederick and Great Britain on one side

Austria, France, Russia on the other

Fighting also occurred in North America and India

Prussia was on verge of defeat

Austrian and Russia forces occupied the capitol

Russia pulled out of the war

Prussia regained strength

Prussia became the strongest military in Europe

Frederick pushed opponent out of Prussia

1756 Every great European power was at war

Fought in Europe, India and north America

Did not change territory in Europe

France lost its colonies in North America