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The War of the Spanish Succession was a devastating war that occurred from 1702-1715. It embroiled all of the major powers of Europe, including Britain, France, Austria, Spain, Prussia and other German kingdoms, Italian kingdoms, Portugal, and Netherlands. The main result of the war is that it prevented France from unifying itself with Spain, after the death of Charles II from the Habsburg dynasty. However, more than resolving this possible unification, it created a new order of power that had global consequences.

===Long-Term Impact===

While in principal, the war maintained a balance in European politics among the powers, the reality was different. First, the new United Kingdom that had formally united Scotland with England had emerged as a global power, in strong part thanks to the war and its aftermath. Britain gained a number of key territories, particularly in the New World such as Newfoundland and access to trade along areas where the French had once dominated. Additionally, they controlled Gibraltar, taking it from Spain (and which they still have to this day). However, rather than mainly weakening their main enemy, France, the war significantly weakened the Dutch, where they were straddled by large debts. This now allowed Britain to take over many trade opportunities, in Africa, North America, and in particular in India and east, that the Dutch once controlled. The rise of Britain as a commercial and territorial empire had essentially accelerated due to the war's consequences. In fact, the rise of the British India East Company, for instance, greatly hastened after this time, particularly as the Dutch East India Company's fortunes began to wane soon after the war (Figure 2).<ref>For more on the long-term impact on Britain, see: Hattendorf, J.B. (1987) <i>England in the War of the Spanish Succession: a study of the English view and conduct of grand strategy, 1702-1712.</i> Modern European history. New York, Garland Pub.</ref>