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Period: 1556 to
Philip II of Spain
Philip 2 tried to make all of Spain's political, religious, and other activities his responsibility -
Period: 1566 to
Dutch revolts against Spain
Over taxation and religious oppression from Spain cause the Netherlands(a.k.a. the Dutch) to revolt from and go to war with Spain, eventually winning their independence at the end of the Eighty Years War. -
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Marked the beginning of the downfall of the Spanish empire -
Period: to
Henry of Navarre
(King of France starting in 1589, King of Navarre starting in 1572)Created Edict of Nantes, which allowed French Protestants to practice their religion in France and gave them rights. However, he also suppressed freedom of speech by censoring preachers and writers in the name of "public peace". -
Period: to
Edict of Nantes
Allowed French protestants to practice their religion in France and gave them some rights. Important because it represent an absolute monarch(Henry IV) showing religious tolerance, though it was eventually repealed by King Louis XIV. -
Don Quixote de la Mancha
Don Quixote was first modern novel. It was published during the decline of Spanish power towards the end of the Dutch revolt and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The book poked fun at Spain's attempt to control the European continent -
Period: to
Thirty Years War
A fight between many nations over religious and political control and power that mainly took place in the different sections of Germany that comprised the Holy Roman Empire. -
Versailles
Royal hunting lodge turned palace by King Louis XIV of France. It's massive size and magnificent architecture and art display the immense power of the Sun King. -
Period: to
Cardinal Richelieu
Was Minister under King Louis XIII of France, and he helped increase the power of the French royalty -
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia is signed, marking the end of the Thirty Years War. It resulted in major changes to the European map, specifically in Germany, and also majorly affected the Germans economically. Most importantly, it marked the end of the idea of a sort of Catholic empire, which France now holding much of the power in Europe instead of the Holy Roman Empire. -
Period: to
War of Spanish Succession
When King Charles II of Spain died, he promised his throne to the grandson of King Louis XIV of France, Philip of Angelou. This caused many Europeans to worry that the French and Spanish kingdoms would be united, taking over much over the continent. As a result, England, Austria, the Dutch Republic, several German and Italian states, and Portugal all went to war against France and Spain to prevent said union from occurring. -
Period: to
Frederick the Great of Prussia
King Frederick II of Prussia was a absolute monarch that strengthened the Prussian army, helped spread and promote philosophy and scientific though, and tremendously boosted the Prussian economy. -
Period: to
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa was the first female Hapsburg monarch. She was very skilled as an absolute monarch, only bringing about reforms in things she supported, like Austria's military, economy, government, education, and public health. In addition, she opposed religious tolerance, instead believing that religious unity was needed to maintain peace. Her appointment to the throne was one of the main causes of the War of Austrian Succession. -
Period: to
War of Austrian Succession
War between European states over whether Maria Theresa had the right to take over the Hapsburg throne after her father died. It showcased the shifting power structures and alliances of the different European after the Peace of Westphalia changed up the distribution of power in Europe. -
Period: to
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years’ War was the last major conflict that all the major European powers took part in before the French Revolution. The main conflict was a result of the Austrian Hapsburgs attempting to retake control of the province Silesia, which had been taken them during the War of Austrian Succession by Prussia, which then resulted in those countries' allies going to war with each other. The French and Indian War also makes up part of it, as well as some conflicts over control of parts of India.