Question 1

When was the Thirty Years' War?

Accepted Answer

The Thirty Years' War ran 1618-1648.

Question 2

What caused the Thirty Years' War?

Accepted Answer

Causes of the Thirty Years' War include: imbalance of power in the region, weakening of the Holy Roman Empire, resentment of the powerful Habsburg Dynasty, commercial interests in the region and, especially, religious division and sectarian violence.

Question 3

Who fought the Thirty Years' War?

Accepted Answer

The Thirty Years' War was fought by Catholic Imperial forces under Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II and rebel Protestant forces. At first a local civil war in Bohemia, the Thirty Years' War eventually drew in England, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Poland-Lithuania, each fighting along religious lines.

Question 4

Who won the Thirty Years' War?

Accepted Answer

No one won the Thirty Years' War. The war was concluded by the Peace of Westphalia which simply ended the hostilities without declaring a victor.

Question 5

What were the results of the Thirty Years' War?

Accepted Answer

Results of the Thirty Years' War include: the sovereignty of states, Dutch independence, Swiss independence, innovations in warfare, France became a major power, Spain declined as a major power, the Holy Roman Empire was weakened further, Calvinism was recognized as a legitimate belief system. The war is also recognized as the "official" end of the Protestant Reformation.

Question 6

Why is the Thirty Years' War important?

Accepted Answer

The Thirty Years' War is important because it was one of the most devastating conflicts in European history costing approximately 8 million lives and destroying most of the region of the Holy Roman Empire (modern Germany). The war was drawn on for propaganda purposes by the Germans for both World War I and World War II.

Thirty Years' War

Definition

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