The War of the Spanish Succession, 1701–14, began as a quarrel over whether an Austrian Habsburg or French Bourbon would succeed the childless Charles II of Spain. The conflict eventually embroiled most of Europe, with Austria, England, Holland, and Prussia the major powers opposing France, Spain, and Bavaria. For centuries afterward, school children learned of the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at Blenheim, the military brilliance of Prinz Eugen of Savoy, an independent territory east of France, as well as the opposing brightness of Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King, who also built the famous palace at Versailles. Today, however, virtually all those names would elicit only blank stares.

Although this war and its personages have now vanished into obscurity, its effects greatly affected the course of European and world history. The Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the war in 1714, ceded the Spanish island of Gibraltar to England. The “Rock of Gibraltar” became an invincible British fortress that controlled the Mediterranean and thus was of paramount importance in both world wars. Conversely, the same treaty elevated Prussia to a kingdom, thus setting in motion a chain of events that led to a unified Germany under a Prussian Kaiser instead of one governed by the Austrians, arguably making the bloodshed that consumed the 20th century more likely.

1. The author implies that a possibly negative aspect of the Treaty of Utrecht was

(A) awarding Gibraltar to the British
(B) reducing the Duke of Marlborough to obscurity
(C) elevating Prussia to a kingdom
(D) failing to resolve the Spanish succession
(E) unifying Germany


2. Which of the following must be true, according to the passage?

(A) Not all of the important military personages were from major powers.
(B) The battle of Blenheim was the most important engagement of the war.
(C) England was the victorious power.
(D) France was defeated in the war.
(E) The transfer of Gibraltar was the most important result of the war.