Timeline about the International Law actors

  • 3000 BCE

    Ancient Civilizations

    Early forms of international law appeared through treaties between ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Hittites. These agreements regulated peace, war, and diplomacy between states.
  • 500 BCE

    Classical Greece

    Greek city-states developed rules on diplomacy, alliances, and treatment of envoys, introducing ideas of mutual respect among political communities.
  • 100

    Roman Empire

    Rome contributed the concept of ius gentium (law of nations), which governed relations between Romans and foreigners and later influenced international legal principles.
  • 1200

    Middle Ages

    Canon law and medieval practices shaped early international norms, especially regarding war, trade, and diplomacy between kingdoms.
  • Hugo Grotius and Modern International Law

    The publication of De Jure Belli ac Pacis laid the intellectual foundations of international law based on natural law and legal principles binding on states.
  • Peace of Westphalia

    This treaty ended the Thirty Years’ War and established the principle of state sovereignty, marking the foundation of the modern international legal system.
  • Codification Era

    International law expanded through treaties regulating warfare, diplomacy, and trade, including the Geneva Conventions.
  • League of Nations

    Created after World War I to promote peace and collective security, representing an early attempt at institutionalized international cooperation.
  • United Nations

    The UN Charter established a comprehensive framework for international law, human rights, and peaceful dispute resolution.
  • Contemporary International Law

    International law now addresses global issues such as human rights, environmental protection, international criminal justice, and globalization.