1. Famous Conflicts in European History

2. Luther vs. Charles V
Characters: Luther – disenchanted German monk; Charles V – The HRE
Conflict: beginning of Protestant Reformation
Time: Early 16th C
Place: Holy Roman Empire (HRE)
Issues: Religious controversy that evolved into war
Impact: Victory for Lutheranism and end of religious unity in German states

3. Galileo vs. Pope Urban VII
Characters: Galileo – Italian inventor; Urban VII – pope
Conflict: Galileo used telescope to prove Copernican theory
Time: Early 17th century
Place: Rome
Issues: science vs. Church doctrine
Impact: showed how out of step the Church was with emerging scientific society

4. Oliver Cromwell vs. Charles I
Characters: Cromwell – leader of Roundheads; Charles – Stuart monarch
Conflict: power of king vs. power of parliament
Time: 1640s
Place: England
Issues: religion, nature of the Anglican Church, authority of the monarch

5. Philip II vs. Elizabeth I
Characters: Philip II – King of Spain; Elizabeth I – Queen of England
Conflict: Philip attempted to depose Elizabeth and end Protestantism in Eng.
Time: 1588
Place: Coast of England
Impact: Solidified Elizabeth’s position to throne; began the decline of Spain

6. Frederick the Great vs. Maria Theresa
Characters: Frederick – King of Prussia; Maria Theresa – Empress of Austria
Conflict: Who would dominate German states
Time: Mid 18th century
Place: German states/Habsburg Empire
Issues: Frederick’s success in taking Silesia led to emergence of Prussia
Impact: Long decline of Austria began

7. Metternich vs. Mazzini
Characters: Metternich – Austrian foreign minister; Mazzini – founder of Young Italy
Conflict: Metternich’s attempt to retain the status quo in the face of intense Italian nationalism
Time: 1840s
Place: Habsburg Empire
Issues: Italian desire to remove Austria from its northern lands
Impact: Led to Revolutions of 1848 and Metternich’s fall from power

8. Bismarck vs. Napoleon III
Characters: Bismarck – chief minister of Prussia; Napoleon III – emperor of France
Conflict: Franco-Prussian War
Time: 1870
Place: France
Issues: Bismarck’s intentional war w/ France to unite Germans dominated by Prussia
Impact: Led to German unification, cost Napoleon III his throne, reshaped European structure, sowed seeds of WWI

9. Wilson vs. Clemenceau
Characters: Wilson – President of US; Clemenceau – Premier of France
Conflict: Plans for peace after WWI; lenient versus harsh
Time: 1919
Place: Versailles
Issues: Treatment of Germany, reparations, world peace, French security
Impact: ToV led to WWII

10. Lenin vs. Kerensky
Characters: Lenin – Communist; Kerensky – moderate socialist
Conflict: Battle for control of Russia
Time: 1917
Place: Russia
Issues: Continuation of Russia in WWI, direction of Russian Revolution
Impact: Bolsheviks rise to power with promises of “Land, peace, bread”

11. Hitler vs. Chamberlain
Characters: Hitler – Dictator of Germany; Chamberlain – Prime Minister of Britain
Conflict: Chamberlain’s attempt to appease Hitler
Time: 1938
Issues: Hitler’s desires to incorporate all Germans into a German national state; desire by GB to keep peace
Impact: appeasement led to WWII

12. Truman vs. Stalin
Characters: Truman – President of US; Stalin – Dictator of Russia
Conflict: Involved security and world domination
Time: (Early Cold War)
Place: Eurasia
Issues: military supremacy, global mastery, economic ideologies
Impact: fear of nuclear holocaust, attempt to gain support of Europe and 3rd world nations