Conflicts and challenges

Conflicts and Power Struggles

The Early Modern era saw a myriad of conflicts, wars and challenges related to the power struggles between emerging nation-states.
The Italian Wars (1494–1559) were a series of conflicts among the major powers of Western Europe, involving France, Spain, and the various Italian city-states, due to rivalry and territorial disputes.
The Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) in Central Europe was predominantly a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire, but also encompassed broader political and territorial issues.

Religious Conflict and Reformation

Disputes between religious authorities and monarchs often resulted in conflict. This was intensified by the Protestant Reformation, which began with Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517.
This period saw the English Reformation, which started under Henry VIII. This was a complex mix of political maneuverings and genuine religious reform.
The wars of religion in France (1562–1598) were a series of violent clashes between Catholics and Protestant Huguenots, highlighting the intense power struggle between different faith groups within a nation.

Revolutions and Uprisings

This era also saw several significant uprisings, often with the intent of challenging absolutist rule. For example, the Fronde (1648–1653) was a series of civil wars in France during the minority of Louis XIV.
In England, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw the overthrow of James II and the ascension of William III, marking a shift towards constitutional monarchy.
Economic struggles also led to uprisings, such as bread riots due to inflation and lack of resources, often resulting in social and political changes.

Exploration, Imperialism and Conflicts

The Age of Exploration saw the rise of powerful colonial empires, mainly Spain and Portugal initially, and later England, France and the Netherlands.
The Spanish conquest of the Americas led to many wars between European powers over control of new lands and resources, and to significant conflicts with local populations.
The attempts to control trade routes, such as the lucrative spice trade, resulted in conflicts like the Anglo-Dutch Wars (1652–1674).

Use these points to frame your revision of conflict and challenges during the Early Modern State period. Remember to delve deeper, using wider reading and sources to understand key events, personalities and their influences on the era.