Western civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Western civilization - Essay Example Spain and France were both interested in seizing German territory so that they would gain wealth and protect themselves from each other. Sweden and Denmark also had territorial ambitions in Germany. The first part of the war was the Bohemian Revolt. This lasted from 1618 to 1620. It started when Protestants attacked Catholic dignitaries in the Second Defenestration of Prague. Spain entered the war on the side of the Catholics, and the Protestants were defeated at Sablat after early successes. Saxony joined the war on the Catholic side, and after the Battle of White Mountain, the Protestant Revolts were suppressed, and Bohemia became Catholic. The Catholics successfully advanced into the Palatine in the Palatine phase of this war. The rebellion seemed to be over. In 1625, Denmark intervened on the side of the Protestants. This was unsuccessful. In 1629, Denmark signed the Treaty of Lubeck and left the war. In 1630, Sweden entered the war to aid the Protestants. The Swedish forces, led by Gustavus Adolphus, were successful, and much of the territories that were lost to the Catholics were regained. However, after Adolphuss death, the Swedes were defeated, and the Peace of Prague was negotiated. This treaty forbade German states from forming alliances with each other, or with foreign powers. This treaty formalized some Spanish gains, and France then attacked the Hapsburgs to reduce their influence. The Swedes and the Dutch joined them. At first the Spanish were successful, but they finally suffered several major defeats, and the all of the nations involved in the war began to work for peace. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed, ending the War. The results of this treaty were that the Peace of Augsburg was to be seriously respected, and all Christians could practice their own type of denomination privately. Calvinsim was