Recovery from the economic setbacks of the fourteenth century began around 1450, and Europe’s population expanded rapidly though the fast growth of the sixteenth century was interrupted by the war, rebellion, famine and plague in the seventeenth century and not resumed until the middle of the eighteenth century. Overall it increased from an estimated 69 [...]
Fredrick the Great of Prussia Influenced the History of Europe
One of the few generals to earn the title “the Great”, Fredrick II led the Prussian army for more than 25 years against a host of enemies that nearly always outnumbered his forces. Boldness and audacity marked Fredrick’s operations; preemptive attacks characterized his means of making war. He established Prussia as a great military power [...]
History of Europe between 1648 and 1806 and Rise of Prussia and France
The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 brought a close to the devastating religious wars. The peace treaty proved to be a milestone in German history. The failure of the emperor to impose his will on the Protestant princes confirmed the political fragmentation which had gathered pace since the 14th century. After 1648 Germany was a [...]
History of Western Europe from 1558 to 1648 was a Period of Revolts
The second half of 16th and first half of 17th centuries were a time of turbulence throughout Europe. In Russia the ‘time of trouble’ after the death of Ivan the Terrible (1584) lasted until 1613. Northern Europe was embroiled in almost continuous war from 1561 to 1658, as Sweden, independent since the time of Gustavus [...]
History of Europe and the Religious Wars between 1517 and 1648
The Valois kings of France, though combating the protestant Huguenots at home, supported the German Protestant princes against the Habsburg emperor. Although the French Huguenots won toleration by the Edict of Nantes (1598), their numbers were severely reduced during the religious wars between 1562 and 1589, and elsewhere in Europe the second half of the [...]
History of Europe in 16th Century and the Reformation Movement
The closing years of the 15th century saw a great revival of popular religion in Europe, but the established church, which never fully recovered from the effects of the schism of 1378-1417, was ill equipped to satisfy its needs. Except in Bohemia and Moravia, where the Hussites comprised over half the population, and in England, [...]
Rise of New Monarchy in Europe During 15th and 16th Centuries
In Europe the revival after the setback of the 14th century began around 1450. The whole continent was affected. In the east Ivan III (1462-1505) profited from the decline of the Mongol khanates to inaugurate a rapid expansion of the territory of Muscovy and to attack the independence of Tver, Novgorod and the landowning aristocracy. [...]
European Colonization of South-East Asia from 16th to 19th Centuries
When European traders and adventurers broke through into the Indian Ocean at the close of the 15th century, the great prize, drawing them forward, was the spices of South-East Asia. Here was untold wealth to be tapped. But here also, at one of the world’s main crossroads, where cultural influences from China and India intermingled, [...]
How America Was Colonized by the Europeans Between 16th and 18th Centuries
The conquest of Mexico by Hernan Cortes in 1519-20 and of Peru by Francisco Pizarro in 1531-33 laid the foundation of Spanish colonial empire in America. With the help of rebellious tribes, oppressed by their Aztec and Inca conquerors both were amazingly successful. By 1535 when vice regal government was set up in Mexico, and [...]
Invasion of Europe by Saracens, Norwegians and Danes From 9th to 12th Century
The relative stability of western Europe under Charles the Great (Charlemagne) and of England under Offa of Mercia was shattered in the 9th century by attacks of Saracens in the south, Magyars in the east and Norwegians and Danes in the north and west. The Saracens pillaged Rome in 846, and after establishing a base [...]
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