Peace of Westphalia


The Peace of Westphalia was comprised of several treaties that finally ended the Thirty Years' War. This heralded in the age of independent, sovereign states in Europe. No longer was the Holy Roman Emperor considered the reigning authority over the entire region. Each state was able to determine its own political and religious autonomy, which meant that Europe was no longer united by a common religion. Because of the treaties, many borders changed, and the balance of power shifted as well. Even though this ended a long period of warfare in European history, many issues were left unaddressed, and several territorial wars were fought over the next two centuries. This interactive map details the boundaries before and after the treaties, as well as the religious denomination of the different regions.

1			Summarize the losses and gains of the Thirty Years’ War by the time of the Peace at Westphalia.
2			What was the principle of “balance of power,” and how did this principle shape the negotiations at Westphalia?
3			Describe the changes to the religious map of Europe after the Peace of Westphalia. What was the nature of the religious freedoms attained at that time?