The Seven Years’ War, a global conflict that pitted the major powers of Europe against each other, officially began on May 15, 1756, when England declared war on France. Emerging from a series of territorial and colonial disputes, this war involved nearly all the great powers of the time and spanned five continents, affecting Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Often considered the first “world war,” its outcomes reshaped international relations and colonial empires, setting the stage for future global conflicts.
