The Thirty Years' War was a major European war that occurred during the 17 th century. Whilst the conflict took place mainly in the area of modern day Germany, it involved many of the great European powers at that time. The Thirty Years' War had a profound impact on Europe, and some of the consequences of this war can be seen in the changes that were made to European society.
The Beginning of a Brutal 30 Years
The Thirty Years' War began in 1618, and lasted until 1648. This war started off as a religious war that pitted Catholics against Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire, but then evolved into a conflict between the Habsburg Dynasty and other European powers. The immediate cause of the Thirty Years' War was the decision by the newly-elected Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II of Bohemia, to impose religious uniformity in his empire. This was seen by his Protestant subjects as a violation of the Peace of Augsburg, and they banded together to form the Protestant. This, in addition to Ferdinand's refusal to tolerate his Protestant subjects, led to the Thirty Years' War.
