1. Austria and Prussia

2. Thirty Years War Holy Roman Empire  Hundreds of small separate states with a ‘common’ emperor  North = Protestant  South = Catholic

3. Thirty Years War 1618 – Hapsburg King (Ferdinand) wanted to assert power  Protestants revolted—Ferdinand moved to suppress  Both sides sought allies 1619 – Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor  Tried to roll back Reformation Mercenaries- soldiers for hire Depopulation  1/3 of Germans died

4. Thirty Years War 1648 – Peace of Westphalia (series of treaties ending the war)  France gained territory  Hapsburgs lost almost all power  Netherlands and Switzerland recognized as independent  360 separate German states

5. Austria Hapsburgs left with just Austria  Expand lands (Bohemia, Hungary, parts of Poland and Italy)

6. Austria Maria Theresa takes throne  Very capable  Trouble being recognized  Prussia stole Silesia  She fought back (War of the Austrian Succession)  Britain and Russia helped  Reform: made clergy and nobles pay taxes  Lowered taxes for peasants

7. Prussia Hohenzollern family takes control (Frederick William I)  Gained support of nobles (Junkers)  Forged a very strong army  Trained son in the army

8. Prussia Frederick II takes power in 1740  Sparked War of Austrian Succession  People recognized Prussia as powerful  “Frederick the Great”