Key Events and Wars Flashcards

Flashcards about key events and wars from lecture notes, focusing on causes, effects, and involved parties.

War of the Roses

Dynastic conflict from 1455–1487 between the Houses of Lancaster (red rose) and York (white rose) over the English throne, ended with Henry VII establishing the Tudor dynasty.

German Peasants' War

Conflict from 1524–1525 caused by socio-economic grievances. Brutally suppressed, with only minor reforms and feudalism largely remaining.

Schmalkaldic War

Religious conflict from 1546–1547 between Protestant princes and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, resulting in Charles V's temporary victory and the Augsburg Interim.

French Wars of Religion

Religious conflict from 1562–1598 between Catholics and Huguenots, concluded with the Edict of Nantes granting religious tolerance.

Conquest of the Americas

European exploration from 1492–1550 driven by the desire for wealth and territory, resulting in the destruction of indigenous civilizations and the establishment of European colonies.

Thirty Years' War

Conflict from 1618–1648 stemming from religious and political tensions in the Holy Roman Empire. The Treaty of Westphalia reshaped European political order and recognized state sovereignty.

Louis XIV's Constant Warfare

Series of wars from 1667–1713 driven by Louis XIV's ambition to expand France's influence, draining French resources but initially solidifying its dominance.

War of Spanish Succession

Dispute from 1702–1713 over the Spanish throne, resulting in the Treaty of Utrecht that limited French expansion but secured the Bourbon dynasty for Spain.

Battle of Vienna

Conflict in 1683 caused by the Ottoman Empire's expansion into Europe. It ended with a decisive defeat for the Ottomans, halting their territorial expansion into Europe.

Treaty of Karlowitz

Resulted from Ottoman defeat in the Great Turkish War in 1699. The Ottoman Empire lost significant land to Austria, Poland, and Venice, weakening its hold on Eastern Europe.

English Civil War

Conflict from 1642–1651 caused by disputes between King Charles I and Parliament. It led to Charles I's execution and the rise of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth.

War of Austrian Succession

Conflict from 1740–1748 caused by disputes over Maria Theresa's succession to the Habsburg throne. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) returned most territories with Prussia retaining Silesia.

Seven Years' War

Global struggle from 1756–1763 for colonial dominance, particularly between Britain and France. The Treaty of Paris (1763) reshaped global power, with Britain emerging as the dominant colonial power.

American Revolutionary War

Conflict from 1775–1783 caused by the American colonies' resistance to British taxation and control. It led to American independence and the establishment of the United States.

French Revolutionary Wars

Series of conflicts from 1792–1802 stemming from the French Revolution. It caused the establishment of the French Republic and the spread of revolutionary ideas across Europe.

Napoleonic Wars

Conflicts from 1803–1815 driven by Napoleon Bonaparte's expansionist ambitions. It resulted in Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the Congress of Vienna, and the redrawing of European borders.

1848 War over Hungary

Hungarian nationalist and independence movements against the Austrian Empire. Defeated by Austrian forces, leading to the suppression of Hungarian independence movements.

Crimean War

Conflict from 1853–1856 caused by Russia’s desire to expand into the Ottoman Empire and control the Black Sea. The Treaty of Paris (1856) weakened Russian influence.

Austro-Prussian War

Conflict in 1866 between Austria and Prussia over dominance in German-speaking Europe. Prussia emerged victorious, excluding Austria from German affairs.

Franco-Prussian War

Conflict from 1870–1871 between France and Prussia. France’s defeat led to the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.

Scramble for Africa

Late 1800s, European powers competed for colonies and resources in Africa, leading to colonization and exploitation with long-term consequences.

Opium Wars

Conflicts in 1839–1842 and 1856–1860 caused by British trade of opium in China. The Treaty of Nanjing (1842) led to British control over Chinese trade and territory.

Boer Wars

Conflicts in 1880–1881 and 1899–1902 caused by British attempts to control South Africa and its resources. British victory led to the unification of South Africa under British control.

Zulu War

Conflict in 1879 caused by British desire to expand their colonial holdings in Southern Africa. British victory led to the annexation of Zululand into the British Empire.

Congress of Berlin

Occurred in 1878 due to the decline of the Ottoman Empire and European powers' interests in its territories. Major territorial adjustments in the Balkans led to further instability.

Russo-Japanese War

Conflict from 1904–1905 caused by imperialist rivalry over Manchuria and Korea. Japan's victory established it as a world power.

Balkan Wars

Conflicts from 1912–1914 caused by nationalism and territorial disputes in the Balkans. The Ottoman Empire lost most of its remaining European territory.

World War I

Conflict from 1914–1918 caused by militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism. It led to the collapse of empires and the Treaty of Versailles.

Russian Revolution and Civil War

Conflict from 1918–1921 caused by discontent with the monarchy and World War I. The overthrow of the Romanov monarchy and establishment of the Soviet Union.

Spanish Civil War

Conflict from 1936–1939 caused by political instability and ideological division. Nationalist victory led by Francisco Franco, who ruled as a dictator.

World War II

Conflict from 1939–1945 caused by expansionism by Nazi Germany, fascist Italy, and imperial Japan. The defeat of Axis powers, formation of the United Nations, and beginning of the Cold War.

Cold War

Conflict from 1945–1989 caused by ideological conflict between the USA and Soviet Union. It resulted in proxy wars, nuclear threat, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Suez Crisis

Occurred in 1956 due to Egyptian nationalization of the Suez Canal. A diplomatic defeat for Britain and France, leading to a decline in their influence.

Korean War

Conflict from 1950–1953 caused by North Korean invasion of South Korea. A stalemate divided Korea into North and South.

Algerian War

Conflict from 1954–1962 for Algerian independence from French colonial rule, resulting in Algerian independence in 1962.

Vietnam War

Conflict from 1963–1975 caused by North Vietnam's insurgency against the South. The fall of South Vietnam and reunification under communist rule.

Falklands War

Occurred in 1982 due to Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. British victory and the reassertion of British control.

Yugoslav Wars

Conflicts from 1991–2001 caused by ethnic tensions in the breakup of Yugoslavia. Resulted in the breakup of Yugoslavia, with mass casualties.

Renaissance

Time period from 1350–1550 characterized by humanism, art, and secularism.

Reformation

Time period from 1517–1648 characterized by Protestant challenges to Catholicism.

Age of Absolutism

Time period from 1600s–1700s characterized by powerful monarchies.

Enlightenment

Time period in the 1700s characterized by new ideas about rights and government.

French Revolution and Napoleon

Time period from 1789–1815, marking the end of the monarchy and the rise of nationalism.

Industrial Revolution

Time period from 1750–1850 characterized by technological, social, and economic change.

19th-Century Ideologies

Time period from 1815–1914 characterized by liberalism, nationalism, and socialism.

World Wars

Time period from 1914–1945 characterized by specific causes, events, and outcomes.

Cold War and European Integration

Time period from 1945–1991 characterized by NATO, EU formation, student revolts, and welfare states.

Contemporary Europe

Time period from 1991–Present characterized by EU expansion, migration, and Brexit.

Greek Revolt of 1821

The Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in Greek independence by 1830. Inspired nationalist revolts across Europe.

Revolutions of 1848

A wave of liberal and nationalist revolts across Europe (France, Austria, Italy, Germany, Hungary) that sparked political awareness and nationalist sentiment.

Crimean War (1853–1856)

Conflict between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, Britain, France, and Sardinia. Weakened Russia and exposed its backwardness.

Baltic Wars / Pan-Slavic Nationalism

Cultural and political movement to unify Slavic peoples, often under Russian leadership, which undermined both Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian control.

Bismarck and Prussia (1862–1890)

Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian Chancellor, pursued German unification under Prussian dominance through realpolitik orchestrated wars.

German and Italian Unification (1848–1871)

Two major new powers (Germany and Italy) changed European geopolitics through conservative unification.

Wars in Yugoslavia (1991–2001)

A series of ethnically-driven civil wars and conflicts following the breakup of Yugoslavia, showing how ultranationalism and ethnic identity led to the establishment of several new nations.