The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) and its Aftermath

“The Miseries and Misfortunes of War,” Jacques Callot (1632)

AP European History

J.F. Walters (2010)
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The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) and its Aftermath: Essential Questions (Page 1 of 2)
1. What was Europe like politically and religiously on the eve of the Thirty Years’
War?
2. Why did the war begin in Bohemia? What was the Defenestration of Prague?
3. How did the Protestant Union and Catholic League shape the early phase of the
Thirty Years’ War?
4. Why did Spain renew its war against The Netherlands?
5. Who did the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II hire to build an imperial army? Why did Ferdinand want a powerful army?
6. How did the individual states within the Holy Roman Empire react to
Ferdinand II’s centralizing policies made possible by military victories?
7. Who was Gustavus Adolphus? What were his motives for joining the Thirty
Years’ War?
8. What was France’s interest in joining the Thirty Years’ War?
AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48) and its Aftermath: Essential Questions (Page 2 of 2)
9. What was the nature of the religious, territorial and constitutional settlement of the Peace of Westphalia?
10. What were the general results of the Thirty Years’ War?
11. What was the status of France in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War?
12. What was the status of Austria in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War?
13. What was the status of The Netherlands in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’
War?
14. What was the status of Brandenburg-Prussia in the aftermath of the Thirty
Years’ War?
15. What was the status of Sweden in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War?
16. What was the status of Poland in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War?
17. What was the status of England in the aftermath of the Thirty Years’ War?

AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)
Journal 16: The Thirty Years’ War was in part a German religious war and in part a civil war fought over constitutional issues in the Holy Roman Empire.

––Palmer Chapter 16 • pp. 135-43––
Directions; Using sentences or detailed bulleted notes, identify & explain the evidence Palmer uses to support the thesis listed above.

AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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The Thirty Years’ War (1618-48)
Chart or Outline the FRQ task:

Evaluate the relative importance of the religious rivalries and dynastic ambitions that shaped the course of the Thirty Years’ War.

AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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On the Eve of War: Europe about 1560
The Thirty Years’ War was in part a German religious war and in part a civil war fought over constitutional issues in the Holy Roman Empire.

Palmer Chapter 16 • pp. 135-143

AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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On the Eve of War: Holy Roman Empire

Matthias (1612-19)
Holy Roman Emperor
Source: Wikipedia

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federated state loosely ruled by the Austrian
Habsburgs (Holy Roman Emperors)

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most important cities: Prague & Vienna

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religiously divided: Catholic states, Lutheran states, and growing Calvinist populations

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Holy Roman Emperors

politically decentralized: German states/ princes maintained local, feudal rights and exercised some autonomy

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sought greater centralization around their dynasty and capital city (therefore, weakening the power of the local states/ princes) desired a permanent standing army religion: Habsburgs were Catholic

AP European History • The Thirty Years’ War • J.F. Walters
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On the Eve of the War: the Protestant Union

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Protestant Union: alliance of 12 Lutheran states in the Holy Roman Empire and three major states outside the Holy Roman Empire

✓
✓
✓
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Frederick V (of the Palatinate)
Source: Wikipedia

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goal: Protect the interests and liberties of
Protestants in Europe formed in 1608 led by Frederick of the Palatinate, the Holy
Roman Empire’s most powerful