Thirty-years-war

It established the "Westphalian System," the idea that a nation has exclusive rights over its own territory and domestic affairs (including religion).

Sweden, Denmark, and—most notably— France joined to weaken the Habsburgs. Interestingly, Catholic France fought on the Protestant side, proving that national interest (limiting German power) had become more important than religious solidarity. 3. The Human Cost thirty-years-war

France emerged as the dominant power on the continent, while the Holy Roman Empire began a long, slow decline into a loose collection of independent states. It established the "Westphalian System," the idea that

The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history, evolving from a local religious dispute into a massive struggle for continental power. 1. The Spark: Defenestration of Prague they survived the 70-foot drop

The war began in Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) when Protestant nobles, angry over the curtailing of their religious rights, tossed two Catholic royal officials out of a window in Prague Castle. Remarkably, they survived the 70-foot drop, but the act triggered a rebellion against the Holy Roman Empire. 2. From Religion to Politics

The war ended with a series of treaties that fundamentally reshaped the world: