Causes case study 1 — the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Europe
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Question
When was the Thirty Years' War?
Answer
1618–1648, mostly fought within the Holy Roman Empire but drawing in much of Europe.
Question
What was 'cuius regio, eius religio'?
Answer
'Whose realm, his religion' — the Peace of Augsburg rule (1555) letting each prince choose his land's faith.
Question
Why was the Peace of Augsburg (1555) unstable?
Answer
It recognised only Catholics and Lutherans and excluded the growing Calvinists, who were left angry and unprotected.
Question
Who was Ferdinand II and what did he want?
Answer
The Habsburg emperor who wanted to reassert Catholic and imperial authority over the semi-independent German princes.
Question
What was the Defenestration of Prague (1618)?
Answer
Bohemian Protestant nobles threw Ferdinand's Catholic officials from a castle window, triggering the revolt and the war.
Question
Why did the Bohemians revolt in 1618?
Answer
They rejected the Catholic Ferdinand II as their King of Bohemia and refused to accept his rule.
Question
In what order did foreign powers join the war?
Answer
Bohemia (1618), then Denmark (1625), then Sweden (1630), then France (1635).
Question
Who was Gustavus Adolphus?
Answer
The Protestant king of Sweden who invaded in 1630, won major victories, and was killed in battle in 1632.
Question
Why did Catholic France fight the Catholic Habsburgs?
Answer
Dynastic rivalry — France (Bourbon) feared Habsburg 'encirclement' and wanted to break their power.
Question
Habsburg vs Bourbon — who ruled what?
Answer
Habsburgs ruled Austria and Spain; Bourbons ruled France. Their rivalry widened the war.
Question
Long-term vs short-term causes of the war?
Answer
Long-term: religious instability, Ferdinand's ambition, dynastic rivalry, economic motives. Short-term: the 1618 Bohemian revolt.
Question
How did a local revolt become a European war?
Answer
Religion, dynastic ambition and foreign intervention pulled in Denmark, Sweden and France, spreading the fighting across the continent.
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Full study notes for Causes case study 1 — the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), Europe
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Causes of conflicts
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