# 4

Germany was not able to recover from religious wars, specifically the Thirty Years' War, as well as France because it was also in the middle of a civil war. The war initially started between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire and slowly spread throughout most of Europe. During this time the Habsburgs were in control of Germany. Their rulings angered many Germans who took up arms to fight against them. This caused utter chaos and forced the Habsburgs to divide their focus between the Thirty Years' War and their own civil war. Their enemies, one of which being France, were able to give their complete and undivided attention to the Thirty Years' War allowing them to ultimately win. Another reason recovery was difficult was the fact that the war took place in Germany causing them the most destruction.