The+Thirty+Year's+War

Ryan Chen

Analyze various ways in which the Thirty Year's War (1618-1648) represented a turning point in European history.

Thesis: The Thirty Year's War represented a turning point in European history through the military revolution such as larger armies, the religious revolution which caused Christianity to decline, and France becoming the dominant nation in Europe Military Revolution
 * Gustavus Adolphus and army
 * Wallenstein vs Adolphus
 * use of larger armies
 * increased use of firearms and cannon
 * greater flexibility and mobility in tactics
 * better discipline

Religious Revolution- Protestants vs Catholics
 * Bohemian Phase- Holy Roman Empire Ferdinand deposed
 * Danish Phase- King Christian IV of Denmark leads army into Germany
 * Swedish Phase
 * Ferdinand II's Edict of Restitution
 * Catholic French supported Protestant Swedes
 * Peace of Westphalia ensured that all German states could determine their own religion

France became the dominant nation in Europe
 * Franco-Swedish Phase
 * led by Cardinal Richelieu
 * French defeat Spanish at Battle of Rocroi
 * French defeat imperialist- Bavarian armies
 * Holy Roman Empire disintegrates
 * French gain land in West Germany