The Livonian War dramatically changed the peaceful life of Old Livonia, denoting  the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Era. The old states ceased to exist, and South Estonia witnessed, first, the rule of the Polish Kingdom, then, the rule of the Swedish Kingdom, and  after the Great Northern War it was annexed to the Russian Empire, and the central power on spot was represented by the Governor General.

The border between different rulers in the northern and southern parts of Estonia - Estonia and Livonia- split the country for about 300 years.

Wars, famines, epidemics and plagues were the severe causes for  the decrease of the population. The chronicles of the 17.-18. centuries as well as the census lists of villages of that period,  depicted the reality of empty villages where „one could not hear a dog barking or a rooster crowing". Despite of the sad chaos, the local people still  continued their hard work for everyday living and bore children when there were more peaceful times between the wars and riots. In the 17th century the local people in Estonia set a cultural question: should the Estonian language of the north or the Livonian Estonian language of the south be considered „the right and correct  Estonian language"? At that time, the Livonian Estonian was selected the more worthy dialect to print the first Estonian Testament - Wastne Testament.

By the end of the Great Northern War about 120,000 - 140, 000 people had survived.