The Last Valley

In 1618, the Thirty Years War started when Emperor Ferdinand II attempted to curtail the religious activities of his subjects in Spain. This sparked rebellion among the Protestant peoples of not just Spain, but several other countries as well. Many countries felt the effect of the Thirty Years War. One of those countries was Germany. The film The Last Valley provides a glimpse into Germany in the seventeenth century and how the Thirty Years War affected people residing there. By viewing The Last Valley, the audience is able to learn many things regarding german society during the time period. The audience is able to take away knowledge on religion, the conduct of warfare, the relationship between men and women, the social and political structure of a small village, the role of disease and plague in society, and finally, the role of superstition during this time period. The Last Valley allows the audience to take away knowledge of the religious passions and the role of superstitions is Germany during the seventeenth century. The prevalent religion in Germany during …show more content…
With religious war ravaging across the entire European continent, fear of being attacked was a constant. Religions and faiths were changing left and right; the rise of Lutheranism produced doubts within the people towards the church. On top of that fear, people also held a strong fear of contracting the plague and disease. Another fear held by the people was fear of witchcraft. Superstitions of white and black magic held the villages at bay. And finally, we can conclude that social status and the difference in treatment between men and women was similar to how it was all around the world during this time period. Overall, The Last Valley is an excellent source for one to use if they desire to learn more about small villages in Germany during the seventeenth