Thus was laid the foundation of the great colonial empires, and consequently, of world politics.

Germany remained excluded from this great movement, since she wasted her forces in ecclesiastical disputes and religious wars.

On the other hand, in combination with England, the Low Countries and Austria, which latter had at the same time to repel the inroad of Turks from the East, she successfully curbed the French ambition for sovereignty in a long succession of wars.

England by these wars grew to be the first colonial and maritime power in the world.
Germany forfeited large tracts of territory, and lost still more in political power.

She broke up into numerous feeble separate States, which were entirely void of any common sympathy with the German cause.
But this very disintegration lent her fresh strength.