The
Seven Years' War was fought between 1755 and 1764, the main conflict occurring in the seven-year period from 1756 to 1763. It involved every
great power of the time except the
Ottoman Empire, and affected Europe, North America, Central America, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. Considered as the greatest European war since the
Thirty Years War of the 17th century, it once again split Europe into two coalitions, led by
Great Britain and
France, respectively. For the first time, aiming to curtail Britain and
Prussia's ever-growing power, France formed a grand coalition of its own.