Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP World History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648, marked a significant turning point in European history by effectively bringing an end to the Thirty Years' War, a devastating conflict that had involved numerous European powers and had profound social, political, and religious ramifications. This treaty established a new framework for international relations, emphasizing the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. It recognized the sovereignty of over three hundred German principalities and laid the foundation for the modern system of nation-states.

In addition to concluding the Thirty Years' War, the Treaty of Westphalia also had implications for the Peace of the Pyrenees, which ended a conflict between France and Spain, thus involving multiple nations and reshaping political alliances in Europe. The treaty essentially marked the decline of the Spanish Empire and the rise of France as a dominant power in Europe.

Understanding the historical significance of the Treaty of Westphalia helps underscore its role in shaping subsequent peace negotiations and conflicts, facilitating notions of national identity, and paving the way for modern diplomacy, in contrast to the other options presented in the question.