Thirty Years' War Devastates Europe
Between 1618 and 1648, the Thirty Years' War was one of the most devastating conflicts in European history. Initially motivated by religious tensions between Catholics and Protestants, the war quickly turned into a political struggle for the balance of power on the continent. The conflict began in the Holy Roman Empire with the revolt of Protestants in Bohemia against the Catholic Habsburg rule, but soon involved major powers such as France, Sweden and Spain.
For three decades, Europe was the scene of bloody battles, destruction and famine, leading to the deaths of millions of people. The conflict ended with the Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648, which redefined European borders and established diplomatic principles that would influence international politics for centuries to come. The treaty granted greater autonomy to the states of the Holy Empire and consolidated France as the dominant power.
The Thirty Years' War left a legacy of devastation, but it also marked the birth of the concept of national sovereignty, influencing the balance of power in Europe and shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Modern Age.
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