IRS 101: Ancestors of the Contemporary International System

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

  1. identify the ancient ancestors of the contemporary international systems;
  2. list the chain of events and monumental changes that culminated in the emergence of the contemporary international system;
  3. trace and link the collapse of ancient political system in Europe, Asia, and Africa to the emergence of the contemporary international political system;
  4. analyse the structure of the contemporary international system; and
  5. provide examples of miniature political arrangements put in place for peaceful co- existence among different political units before the emergence of the contemporary international system.
Course Contents

A brief survey of the fore-runners of the contemporary international system. Answers to the problem of co-existence, order and peace; focus on previous examples of arrangements for organizing relations between diverse peoples from which the modern system sprang. The Chou system; the Greek City States; the Egyptian; Assyrian, Persian world, Renaissance Italy. The collapse of the ancient and medieval political systems of Europe, Asia, and Africa and the rise of different political entities. The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648; and the end of

the 30-year war between catholic states and protestant states in western and central Europe. The congress in Vienna in 1815. The establishment of the modern international system.