The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 5, January 1910Various
History
The History Teacher's Magazine, Vol. I, No. 5, January 1910
Various
History -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals
After calling attention briefly to the fact that this spirit of revolt
manifested itself in other countries, a logical plan of presentation
would be first to discuss the ineffectual efforts of the Emperor
Charles V and Pope Leo X to check the movement as it spread through
Germany, with an explanation of their failures; then to describe the
more successful efforts in this direction taken within the church
itself and known as the Counter Reformation; and finally to introduce
Philip II as the great champion of orthodoxy, devoting his entire
energies and the resources of a great empire to the superhuman task of
restoring the church to its former position of power and influence.
His career calls up Alva’s efforts to subdue the Netherlands, and that
heroic figure, William the Silent; and the sailing of the Great Armada.
One semi-religious war, if not two, have already been under discussion
in connection with these efforts to suppress the revolt, the Dutch War
of Independence and the Spanish Armada. Here is apparently the proper
place to introduce the other struggles, beginning with the Thirty
Years’ War in Germany, then taking up in turn the Huguenot wars in
France and the Puritan Revolution in England, and closing the period
with the sequel to this last struggle, The Glorious Revolution of 1688.
The Thirty Years’ War.
It is natural to turn to Germany first in presenting the religious
wars because of the greater familiarity of the student with conditions
there. The order becomes thereby strictly chronological, as the
Schmalkaldic War broke out in 1546; or, in other words, earlier by
several years than either of the other struggles. This war gave rise
to the Peace of Augsburg, which was a source of so much discontent
that it has been counted as one of the great factors in bringing on
the main struggle. Among the points which seem to call for special
emphasis are the mixture of religious and political causes underlying
the struggle, and the general participation of many of the great
powers of Western Europe. This fact served to prolong the war and to
give it a more European character and a wider significance. It was not
merely a question of _cujus regio, ejus religio_, but of important
dynastic and territorial interests. The efforts directed toward the
overthrow of the power of the Hapsburgs and the peculiar interests of
Denmark, Sweden and England in the contest call for special emphasis.
The power of the Hapsburgs in the time of Charles V and later can be
shown to good advantage by the use of outline maps. At least three
great personalities dominate the scene, Wallenstein, Richelieu and
Gustavus Adolphus, all of whom furnish rich material for biographical
study. Although it is possible to follow the campaigns with an atlas
like Putzger, this study is comparatively barren of results except as
it throws light upon the military genius of a Wallenstein or on the
prowess of “The Lion of the North.” The effects of the war were to be
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account