By the later seventeenth century, Europe was at the dawn of a new era where religious dogma and conflict are increasingly eclipsed by a more secular outlook. What are some of the major reasons for this change?

Essays: Choose one of the following questions and write an essay which clearly and thoroughly addresses each of the topics contained therein. A reasonable amount of detail and approximate dates are expected. Make sure that you provide an interpretation (a thesis with supporting evidence) not just a list of bullet points. The essay is worth seventy-five points. 1. The period from 1559 to 1660 witnesses an outbreak of religious wars throughout Europe. Choose three of the following conflicts (French Wars of Religion, Eighty Years War, Anglo-Spanish War, Thirty Years War, English Civil War) and analyze the causes, some key events, and the final outcomes of each war. 2.By the later seventeenth century, Europe was at the dawn of a new era where religious dogma and conflict are increasingly eclipsed by a more secular outlook. What are some of the major reasons for this change?