Compare and contrast the Wars of Religion in the eastern section of Europe with those of western Europe.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The wars taking place on the border of Poland-Ukraine and Russia were similar to those involving France and the Holy Roman Empire in that they were characterized by both religious and national interests. What began as a localized religious dispute exploded into an international conflict with outside participants providing support to those who were felt to be of some benefit. The initial rebellion by the Cossacks arose in 1648 (as the Peace of Westphalia was ending the Thirty Years' War) because of a decision to reduce the number of Cossacks in the Polish army, and the fact that the Cossacks were Russian Orthodox, rather than Catholic (as was the official religion of Poland). An additional factor to consider is that there was no religious support for Protestantism, which was largely unknown in Poland and Russia. The involvement of Sweden, a Protestant nation, was a part of the desire to attain land on the Baltic, and the Russians ended up receiving significant portions of Ukraine. The religious slaughter was long-held, and largely indiscriminate, although Polish Jews suffered proportionately worse than others.