-280000000 "ñWar was a constant factor in 17th century Europe, as nations and states fought each other for territorial and economic advantage.ñ
In Europe, after the general conflict of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), came the period of the wars of French king Louis XIV (1661-1715). Elsewhere, the Dutch, English, and French fought each other on the American continent, in the West Indies, and in India, while also fighting the local populations. Armies were better organized and increasingly professional. Military uniforms appeared, along with greater discipline and new logistical procedures to supply the troops in the field. Siege warfare took on a greater strategic importance, as armies tended to avoid direct confrontations on the battlefield in favour of attacks against well-defended towns and forts.
