1648 Facts for Kids

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	16th century – 17th century – 18th century
Decades:	1610s 1620s 1630s – 1640s – 1650s 1660s 1670s
Years:	1645 1646 1647 – 1648 – 1649 1650 1651

The year 1648 was a very important time in history, especially for Europe. It was a year when two long and major wars finally came to an end, changing the map and future of many countries. This year also saw Switzerland officially become an independent nation.

Important Events of 1648
People Who Died in 1648
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Important Events of 1648

Peace Across Europe

From January to October, a very important war called the Thirty Years' War finally ended. This war had been going on for a long time and involved many countries in Europe. It finished with a special agreement known as the Peace of Westphalia. This peace treaty helped to reshape Europe and set new rules for how countries would interact.

Another long conflict, the Eighty Years' War, also finished in 1648. This war was fought between the Netherlands and Spain. Its end meant that the Netherlands gained full independence from Spanish rule.

Switzerland Becomes Independent

On October 24, a big step was taken for Switzerland. On this day, Switzerland was officially recognized as an independent country by the other nations of Europe. This meant that Switzerland was now its own separate land, free from outside control.