3.5 The Balance of Power

Rivalry between France and the Habsburgs

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, France and the Habsburg dynasty (Austria and Spain) competed for dominance in Europe. Wars like the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) reflected this struggle, as states sought to prevent any single power from dominating the continent.

Diplomacy and treaties maintain balance

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established the modern state system based on sovereignty and recognized state equality, ending the Thirty Years' War. The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) ended the War of Spanish Succession, preventing France and Spain from uniting under one crown, preserving the balance of power in Europe.

War as a tool of statecraft

Rulers used warfare and shifting alliances to check rivals' power rather than seeking total conquest. Conflicts like the War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War involved complex coalitions (e.g., Prussia vs. Austria, France vs. Britain) fought both in Europe and colonial territories, showing how European conflicts became global.

Key terms

Balance of power

A diplomatic principle where states form alliances and wage limited wars to prevent any single power from dominating Europe.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Treaty ending the Thirty Years' War; established the modern state system based on sovereignty and state equality.

Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

Ended the War of Spanish Succession; kept France and Spain separate to preserve the European balance of power.

France vs. Habsburgs

The central rivalry driving many 17th–18th century European wars, as both sought continental dominance.

Seven Years' War

A global conflict (1756–1763) involving major European powers fought in Europe, North America, and India, reflecting the global reach of balance-of-power struggles.

Try an AP-style question

The War of Spanish Succession (1701–14) aimed to prevent…

1. Britain's rise to dominate the seas
2. Russia's expansion into central Europe
3. France and Spain uniting under one ruler
4. an Ottoman invasion of Vienna