Across Europe patterns set in place by 1571. While tremendous rates of change still lay ahead, the world set on a path that could not be reversed. For instance, the mapping of the globe had for the most part been completed; though many details still needed revelation, the shape of almost all the continents were known. By this time the Counterreformation and Reformation were both firmly in place. The former making it clear that, despite criticism from all corners, the Church would stand its ground. The bullion coming from the New World came in predictable ways, creating unpredicted results (and a long range stretch of inflation). On the Mediterranean, Europeans, in a rare fit of cooperation, signaled a turn of fortune, and established a growing shadow across the eastern portion of the sea. This also pointed to the gradual but distinct decline of the long time rival Turks. Europe had turned a corner, but most of the planet knew little of it, as Europe still knew of the world. Over this approximate eighty year period, both of these circumstances would change dramatically at many levels an ever increasing rate. But despite this change, one thing remained the same : the intention to keep to tradition; to look to the past rather than the future. The world was adopting a modern stance, but it did so in manner of the medieval.\r\n{maketoc}\r\n<h2>((The Frontiers of Science))</h2>\r\n<h2>((New Economies, Old Taxes))</h2>\r\n<h2>((The Second Wave of Literacy))</h2>\r\n<h2>((The Thirty Years War))</h2>\r\n<h3>Causes</h3>\r\n<h3>The Players</h3>\r\n<h3>Various Stages of the War</h3>\r\n<h3>War Results</h3>\r\n<h2>((The English Civil War))</h2>\r\n<h2>((From Discovery to Commerce))</h2>\r\n<h2>((Learning Diplomacy))</h2>')

Le Revolution: The French & Everyone Else

Despite France not knowing in full how it would handle the future, one fact became clear: a return to the past proved impossible. This revelation also became clear across Europe having consequences across the region. For one, Russia and Prussia used the excuse of Jacobinism to further divide Poland. As a consequence, Polish soldiers, known around the world for their compentence, spread around the world and used by various parties for many battles of noble and not so noble means. In a broader sense the French circumstance cemented positions in Europe and beyond. One can easily see that the French inspired the Americans (who had inspiured the French) to expand the idea of personal freedom to their newly created Republic. The French circumstance also inspired others to dream of their own freedoms--and hardened those who feared uprisings against their authority. Since France, long a major population and economic center of most of Europe, affected so much of how the continent, how France turned casued others to react in one manner or another.
What became to clear to everyone was that new positions emerged. The French Revolution gave us first the terms Right and Left, soon to be followed by Liberal and Conservative. The latter found too that they must change in response to events on the ground and more clearly define what conservatism stood for. The Revolution essentially brought feudalism to its end because thought the practice lasted well into the following century, more advanced economies saw that it no served a useful purpose. This reality brings something else we need to know about this French invention: the Revolution endured for far more than a few decades. In hearts and minds Le Revolution did not really end until the industrialism of the 1870s gained its firm footing. Indeed, some could even say that some of its issue remain unresolved down to our time.
That the French Revolution remains in some ways unresolved becomes evident with the fact that four other republics have been declared by the French since the first on 21 September, 1792. Though France remained as an entire entity, who governs it for what reasons has remained an item of contention since the Republic's inception. The reason for this uncertainty has as much to do with France itself as it does with outside forces. For very important reasons the French circumstance did and has affected polities in the region and around the planet.
The manner in which the Revolution affected other nations and regions proves complex, but also provides useful insight into Europe of the time. Exiles from the unrest, who by definition came from wealth, spread around Europe and began to haranque other governments to intercede on their behalf. Most other rulers did not want to expend resources on what they saw as a French issue. Leopold II of Austria saw a way out by declaring action against France (The Declaration of Pillnitz), but actually allocated nothing toward this cause. This reduced the pressure that came from these group of nobles without committing any troops. In reality, Leopold more worried about Prussia and Russia who were busy themselves plotting how to further divide Poland among themselves. However, Leopold's ploy had a reverse effect. The French believed that invasion was imminent emboldening the Girondists who called for 'international revolution'. But this call did not echo in a vacuum: middle and low-income classes across Europe too wanted to end the status-quo that afforded niether them representation nor the power to persuade government on their behalf. In the background were feelings engendered by the Americam Revolution, the Austrian Netherlands having declared themselves the 'United States of Belgium' in 1790, for example. Thus, altogether, the French Revolution did become an international affair for many reasons. The American systems had inspired thoughts of freedom, France's large economy influenced much of Europe anyway and the rights the Frnech fought for were the ones others cherished.


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