Other than being incredibly long, the conflict known as the "Thirty Years' War" is best known for the incredible destruction, terror, and sorrow that followed in its wake. Though its genesis is primarily rooted in religious turmoil, people’s motivations and the true reasons behind the war became blurred over time, as people plunged into a world of pillaging, suffering, rape, extortion, and torture as villages and nations alike went up in flames. A long-lasting war marked by such devastation was bound to have a myriad of political, social, and religious consequences and effects, shaping the workings of the western world.
Throughout and after the,war, the political tides began to turn. Firstly, a number of important geographical consequences occurred; Germany was sectioned, the powerful Hapsburgs began to decline, and as a result, the Netherlands and the Swiss Confederation were declared as autonomous nations. Most importantly, however the Holy Roman Empire, one the political center of Europe, lost power and began to decline starting with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia, up until modernity. Another significant development that arose from the signing of the treaty is that Sweden and France rose to the forefront of European commerce, surpassing Spain and changing the course of European history. The later divisions that occurred made Europe more like how it is in the modern age with Lutherans in the north and Catholic in the south (Smith).
The war also had a large impact on society as it decimated a large portion of the population, aided in the spread of disease, ruined crops, and obliterated economies. Germany alone lost a third of its urban population and two-fifths of its rural people (Smitha). The proletariat living in Europe during this time were perhaps the most affected by the war. In order to fund the huge armies that were raised during the war, states also had to raise taxes. Those same mercenaries that commoners were drained of their money to hire then went through already destitute villages and towns, raping, pillaging, and taking all they could. This, kindled a flame of anger toward governments that would later fuel rebellious movements such as the Enlightenment (Smith).
Most importantly, in correspondence to the origins of the war, there was a outspread shift in the religion throughout all of Europe. At Westphalia, nations were made to compromise for the end of the war and choose order over chaos, and nationalism ultimately trumped the universalism that had been such an integral part of Roman Catholicism. The terms of the treaty entitled a "Christian and universal peace, and a perpetual, true and sincere amity." The built up frustration, rage, and sorrow of the war had awakened in people the need for at least a modicum of tolerance. (Smitha) Though the Thirty Year’s War constituted the worst catastrophe to afflict Germany until World War II, it also helped to end the age of religious wars, which was, perhaps, its greatest achievement, as it eliminated a major destabilizing influence in European politics (History).
Smith, Nicole. "The Consequences and Effects of the Thirty Years War." Article Myriad. 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://www.articlemyriad.com/consequences-effects-thirty-years-war/>.
Smitha, Frank. "Thirty Years' War." Macrohistory and World Timeline. 29 Aug. 2014. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h25-war.html>
"Thirty Years’ War." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.history.com/topics/thirty-years-war>.
Though it is remembered in a wide multitude of ways that helped shaped the modern Western world, the Thirty Years’ War is attributed to most as a religious conflict. This is due to its religious roots and its marking of the end of religious wars. However, when it comes down to it, as many modern historians believe, the war was more of an economic extortion of the common man, as evident in lecture and in our reading. Perhaps the war can even be considered an extortion of life and of humanity that turned men into beasts. Maybe this can be connected back to my first post and my definition that war is an unbreakable and inevitable cycle of aggression, something that dehumanizes both the oppressed and the oppressor alike.