The Wars of Religion
The result of the Thirty Years War was the end of the Holy Roman Empire as an effective ruling entity, the decline of Hapsburg power, an important step towards religious tolerance and the beginning of the modern European state system. Another unfortunate result was the tremendous decrease in German population, (7.5 Million people) the devastation of German agriculture and the ruin of German commerce and industry. The political settlements of the peace were to the disadvantage of Germany. The incredible sufferings of the German people during and after the war would be remembered for centuries.
