The Treaty of Westphalia

The Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648, ended the Thirty Years' War in Europe, which involved many countries and was rooted in religious and political conflicts. It established principles of state sovereignty, recognizing the right of states to govern themselves without outside interference. This treaty helped shape modern international relations by promoting diplomacy and treaties between nations. Importantly, it marked a shift towards the idea of nation-states as the primary actors in global politics, laying the groundwork for the contemporary international system that respects national borders and the autonomy of states.