Summary: International Relations in the 16th–17th Centuries
The Catholic League (led by the Hapsburgs) vs. the Protestant Union (supported by France, Sweden, and Denmark).
States like France and England began prioritizing national security and territorial expansion over religious unity. ⚔️ The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)
The political or military predominance of one state over others.
The House of Hapsburg aimed for a "Universal Monarchy" under the Holy Roman Empire, leading to tensions with other emerging powers.
The transition of society from religious values toward nonreligious values and secular institutions.
Recognition that each state has exclusive authority over its territory.