Correct Answer:
A. Treaty of Westphalia
Treaties are formal agreements between states that often conclude wars and establish new international orders. The mid-17th century saw a pivotal treaty that reshaped European politics and laid foundations for modern international relations.
- A: Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648, is the correct answer. It comprised a series of peace treaties that ended both the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire (involving German states and others) and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, establishing the concept of state sovereignty.
- B: Treaty of Paris refers to several treaties throughout history, none specifically ending this particular conflict involving Spain, Germany, and the Dutch.
- C: Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, ending World War I, centuries after the conflicts mentioned.
- D: None is incorrect because the Treaty of Westphalia directly addresses the question.