, LCP4801 Assignment 2 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2026 - DUE 2026; 100% Correct solutions
and explanations.
QUESTION 1
1.1: Describe the development of international law and the contribution
of pre-colonial African entities to such development. Refer to relevant
sources.
International law has evolved over centuries as a system of rules and norms
that govern the relationships between sovereign states. Its formal
development is often associated with European legal thought, particularly
during the 16th and 17th centuries, when thinkers like Hugo Grotius laid the
foundations of modern legal principles. Grotius emphasized ideas such as the
sovereignty of states, the legitimacy of war under certain conditions, and the
natural rights of states and peoples. These principles shaped the early
codification of treaties, diplomacy, and the rules that regulate inter-state
interactions. Over time, international law expanded to include areas such as
human rights, trade, environmental regulation, and conflict resolution,
gradually moving beyond its initial Eurocentric focus.
However, the development of international law did not occur in isolation in
Europe. Pre-colonial African societies made significant contributions to
practices that mirror the principles underlying modern international law.
Many African kingdoms and empires developed highly organized political
and legal systems long before European colonization. These systems were
characterized by established rules for governance, trade, diplomacy, and
conflict resolution. For instance, states such as the Kingdom of Mali, the
Oyo Empire, the Ashanti Kingdom, and the Great Zimbabwe polity had
mechanisms for negotiating alliances, regulating trade, and resolving disputes
with neighboring entities. These practices demonstrate an understanding of
concepts similar to sovereignty, territorial rights, and diplomatic negotiation.
Semester 1 2026 - DUE 2026; 100% Correct solutions
and explanations.
QUESTION 1
1.1: Describe the development of international law and the contribution
of pre-colonial African entities to such development. Refer to relevant
sources.
International law has evolved over centuries as a system of rules and norms
that govern the relationships between sovereign states. Its formal
development is often associated with European legal thought, particularly
during the 16th and 17th centuries, when thinkers like Hugo Grotius laid the
foundations of modern legal principles. Grotius emphasized ideas such as the
sovereignty of states, the legitimacy of war under certain conditions, and the
natural rights of states and peoples. These principles shaped the early
codification of treaties, diplomacy, and the rules that regulate inter-state
interactions. Over time, international law expanded to include areas such as
human rights, trade, environmental regulation, and conflict resolution,
gradually moving beyond its initial Eurocentric focus.
However, the development of international law did not occur in isolation in
Europe. Pre-colonial African societies made significant contributions to
practices that mirror the principles underlying modern international law.
Many African kingdoms and empires developed highly organized political
and legal systems long before European colonization. These systems were
characterized by established rules for governance, trade, diplomacy, and
conflict resolution. For instance, states such as the Kingdom of Mali, the
Oyo Empire, the Ashanti Kingdom, and the Great Zimbabwe polity had
mechanisms for negotiating alliances, regulating trade, and resolving disputes
with neighboring entities. These practices demonstrate an understanding of
concepts similar to sovereignty, territorial rights, and diplomatic negotiation.
