AP European History AMSCO Guided Notes
2.4: Wars of Religion
AMSCO Guided Notes
AP European History Guided Notes
AMSCO 2.4 - Wars of Religion
Essential Questions
- How did religious and political factors influence each other from 1450 to 1648?
I. Conflicts Among Religious Groups
1. What religious groups were in conflict during the 16th century and what was the scale of violence between them?
2. How did religious tension relate to the broader political changes occurring in Europe during this period?
II. The French Wars of Religion
A. Origins of the Religious Conflict
1. Why did the French monarchy persecute the Huguenots and how did the death of two monarchs in 1559-1560 affect religious conflict?
2. What role did Catherine de' Medici play as regent and how did her actions contribute to religious persecution?
B. Religious Violence
1. What triggered the French Wars of Religion in 1562 and how did Huguenots respond to Catholic persecution?
2. What was the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and what role did Catherine de' Medici and the Guise family play in it?
C. Political Rivalry
1. Who were the three Henrys competing for the French throne and what religious and political support did each have?
2. How was the War of the Three Henrys resolved and who ultimately became king?
D. Political Ending
1. What was a Politique and how did Henry IV demonstrate this philosophy through his actions?
2. What was the Edict of Nantes and how did it promote religious pluralism while maintaining Catholic dominance?
3. How did Henry IV use his power to strengthen France economically after the religious wars ended?
III. The Habsburg Dynasty
A. Confronting the Ottoman Empire
1. What territories did Charles V control and why did he divide his dominion in 1556?
2. How did the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683 affect Ottoman expansion into Europe?
B. Confronting Christian Disunity
1. Why did Philip II persecute Dutch Calvinists and what was the outcome of the Dutch resistance movement?
2. What religious groups were tolerated in the Dutch Republic and how did this differ from Philip II's policies?
3. Why did Philip II send the Spanish Armada to invade England and what was the result?
C. Habsburg-Valois Wars
1. What were the Habsburg-Valois Wars and what territory did both sides compete for?
IV. The Thirty Years' War
A. The Events of the Thirty Years War
1. What weakness in the Peace of Augsburg led to conflict in the 17th century and how did the death of the king of Bohemia trigger the war?
2. What happened during the Bohemian Phase and how did Ferdinand II's forces change the religious landscape?
3. How did the Danish Phase differ from the Bohemian Phase and what was the significance of the Edict of Restitution?
4. What role did King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden play in the Swedish Phase and who funded his military efforts?
5. Why did France enter the Thirty Years' War on the Protestant side despite being a Catholic nation?
V. The Peace of Westphalia
1. What were the major provisions of the Peace of Westphalia and how did they weaken the Holy Roman Empire?
2. Which nations gained power and territory from the Peace of Westphalia and how did the balance of power in Europe change?
3. How did the Peace of Westphalia address religious diversity in Europe and what did it mean for the future of religious conflict?
VI. The Changing Nature of War
1. How did the Thirty Years' War demonstrate that religious conflicts were also driven by political and economic motives?
2. Why is the Thirty Years' War considered a turning point in European history and what did the Peace of Westphalia establish about religious pluralism?
Key Terms
Catherine de' Medici
Henry of Navarre
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre
War of the Three Henrys
Henry III
Henry IV
Edict of Nantes
religious pluralism
Charles V
Ottoman Empire
Thirty Years War
Cardinal Richelieu
Peace of Westphalia