In The Nomos of the Earth, Carl Schmitt presents an account of the end of the epoch of European public law, and the state that it supported, which has received little attention. Yet Schmitt’s account serves to illustrate broader issues involved in the periodization of international relations. This article begins by pointing out the comparative neglect of periodization in international relations before turning to a critical assessment of Schmitt’s account in The Nomos of the Earth. It concludes by suggesting how Schmitt’s flawed account can help us to understand the wider significance of periodization in international relations.