1. Nunc Agenda: Last group will perform Peter the Great skit

2.  While the rulers of France, Spain, and Russia ruled absolutely, Central Europe was not there yet by the 1500s and 1600s

3.  The Holy Roman Empire ruled over much of Central Europe, but in reality, the Emperor had very little power since he was elected by the many German princes of his empire. France = Politically United Holy Roman Empire = Politically Divided

4.  The Protestant Reformation, which began in the HRE, started religious divisions between Protestants and Catholics. Spain= Religiously United Holy Roman Empire = Religiously Divided

5.  The Habsburg family ruled the HRE since the 1450s, and they were Catholic, supported by the Pope. Charles V The one who gave up the job Ferdinand I Brother of Charles who took over for him

6.  In the city of Prague in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic), Catholic Ruler Ferdinand wanted more political and religious power over Protestant Nobles

7.  Ferdinand ordered that two Protestant Churches be SHUT DOWN, but when the royal officials arrived, the Protestant Nobles threw them out a window into a pile of horse poop! “Defenestration of Prague”  This event sparked a revolt, and as each side tried to find other European powers to be their allies, the conflict became bigger and bigger.

8.  At first, the war was Catholic VS Protestant. Catholic countries like Spain, Austria, and Poland supported the Habsburg Emperor and gained many Habsburg victories against the rebel Protestant German states.

9.  However, Protestant countries, like Sweden, Denmark, and England joined to help the Protestant side, and began to defeat the Habsburgs.

10.  Even France, a Catholic country, joined to help the Protestants, but for political reasons. France wanted to weaken their Habsburgs rivals so it could be the strongest in Europe.

11.  Germany was hurt the most from the war, since most fighting happened there.  Mercenary soldiers were violent and destructive, burning homes and fields  Depopulation: Several million Germans (about 1/3) died not just from battle but from disease and starvation.  Wolves were seen roaming the streets, and some people turned to cannibalism!

12.  War ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia treaty  Big Losers = Habsburgs: German princes given independence from the Holy Roman emperor  Big Winners = France: given extra land from Germany and Spain

13.  Big Change = Europe now a collection of several independent states, religious differences between Catholic and Protestant states now accepted