Wars of “Religion”

A New Dynasty in France

I. 1562 – 1598: a 3 way civil War

– A. Valois vs. Huguenots (Protestants) vs. the House of Guise (ultra-Catholics)

– B. 1589 – Henry of Navarre (leader of Huguenots) became Henry IV.

• 1.began the Bourbon dynasty

• 2. converted to Catholicism

• 3. issued the Edict of Nantes

Spain’s Golden Age (1550 – 1650)

• I. Based on wealth from the Americas• II. Ruler: Philip II (1556-1598)

– A. powerful – B. hardworking, but suspicious and indecisive– C. Defender of Roman Catholicism

–1. War against Ottoman Turks - successful

–2. Dutch Revolt – unsuccessful–3. Invasion of England – unsuccessful

• III. Cultural highlight of Spain’s Golden Age– A. art

• 1. El Greco -- saints and martyrs• 2. Velazquez – portraits of the royal family

– B. Literature -- Cervantes: Don Quixote de la

Mancha• 1. first modern European novel• 2. satire on chivalry

Spain’s Golden Age (1550 – 1650)

Spain’s Golden Age (1550 – 1650)

• IV. Spain’s glory was short lived

– A. influx of gold and silver caused inflation

– B. Spain lacked adequate manufacturing

• - unfavorable balance of trade

Dutch Independence

• I. Why did the Dutch seek independence from Spain?

– A. Cultural and religious difference

• Dutch Spain• Protestant Catholic• Town centered feudal• Capitalism manor

system,

guilds

Dutch Independence

– B. Spanish oppression

• 1. to destroy Protestantism

• 2. to raise money through high taxes

Dutch Independence

• II. Result of Revolt: 1581 -- independence for the northern provinces

– led by William of Orange

– established religious toleration

Dutch Independence• III. Cultural result of Dutch prosperity

– A. art• 1. common theme was groups, and

common activities of life.• 2. Rembrandt

–-emphasis on light and shadow–group portraits

• 3. Vermeer –domestic, indoor settings

– B. Amsterdam became the “new Florence”

30 YEARS WAR (1618 – 1648)

I. CausesA. Tensions between Lutheran and Catholic

German princes

B. Protestant (Calvinist) revolt in Bohemia against Catholic prince Ferdinand (later to be the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II)

30 YEARS WAR (1618 – 1648)

II. Two phases of warA. Hapsburg triumphs – Ferdinand allowed

soldiers to plunder German villages

B. Hapsburg Defeats1. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden helped change

the course of the war

2. France (Cardinal Richelieu) joined the war on the Protestant side

30 YEARS WAR (1618 – 1648)• III. Results

– A. Population of Germany declined by 4 million– B. German economy ruined– C. Peace of Westphalia (1648)

• 1. Spain and Austria weakened• 2. France strengthened; gained German territory• 3. German princes became fully independent of

the Holy Roman Emperor• 4. Calvinism became an accepted faith in the

German states– D. German unification would not occur for 200 years