Related Issue 2 To what extent should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?

Chapter 5 Foundations of Globalization Where did it all begin?

Numbers… My Point of View on Globalization: Have your views changed? What are all the ways we use numbers in modern society? My Point of View on Globalization: Have your views changed?

Views on the Origins of Globalization Some believe that globalization began with the rise of the ‘Silk Road’ trading route approx. 2000 years ago. Another theory has globalization evolving in 3 phases: 1. Ancient trade routes led to the exchange of knowledge. (ex. Medicine, science and mathematics introduced to Europe). 2. European Science during the Renaissance improved and travel over long distances was much improved…this also gave rise to Imperialism. 3.The current phase the world is in began after World War II. Marked by rapid growth of world markets combined with advancing communication technologies. China and India will grow as economic powers in this phase.

Historical Globalization Some believe globalization has been around since the world began. Many historians believed that the second phase, commonly referred to as historical globalization, began in 1492 with voyage of Columbus. Others believe globalization began in the 1800’s when cheap goods began to be traded around the world. The post World War II era is called contemporary globalization.

In what ways did the Silk Road contribute to historical globalization?

How Did the Foundations of Historical Globalization Affect People? Important Changes in Europe: Gutenburg invents the printing press; ideas spread quickly. Wealth shifts from Nobles and their land to merchants and tradespeople in growing cities. Trade, driven by a growing middle class becomes the driving force of economics, not agriculture. New ideas from foreign cultures are embraced (ex. Indo-Arabic numerical system.) New technologies based on ideas from other cultures like improved sails and ships, navigation tools, and gunpowder helped make Europe powerful.

Global Competition for Trade After Columbus’ first voyage, competition between the Monarchs of Europe increased due to a desire to gain wealth from colonies and their resources. Mercantilism Laws required a colony’s raw materials to be shipped back to the home country. Here they were used to create finished products that were shipped back to the colony and sold. These were the only products available in colonies so the home countries became wealthy. No competition!! When American colonists rebelled in 1776 as a result of anger at mercantilism, it marked the decline of this system. In its place, ideas about capitalism (Adam Smith) arose. Capitalism stresses free trade without govt. controls while mercantilism was completely govt. controlled.

European Imperial Powers The British, Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish and the French began to establish large empires. Technology (ships, guns, cannons)gave them the ability to rule over and often enslave Indigenous peoples. Results of Contact Settlers were encouraged to move to colonies which displaced and disrupted the way of life of indigenous people, forcing them off good land. Assimilation- European felt that their culture was superior and therefore should be forced upon natives. European diseases (ex. Smallpox) wipe out huge numbers of native peoples around the globe.

Slavery Slavery has existed for many thousands of years (ex. Those captured during tribal wars). The growing demand for labour in European colonies led to two new approaches to slavery: Chattel Slavery- a chattel is a possession. Slaves and their descendants were the private property of the owner. Africans and other indigenous people are captured and enslaved specifically because of their race.

In the 1400’s, Portuguese traders first began to bring slaves back to Europe as ‘products’ for sale as servants. They often had the help of African tribes who would capture other people to trade with the Portuguese. In the 1500’s, Spain, Britain, France and Holland began joined the slave trade to provide labour for profitable plantations (bananas, sugar cane, etc.) in the New World. (Latin America, Caribbean islands). The U.S. began to take slaves to work on cotton plantations in the South. Indentured Labour, where poor settlers signed contracts for very little pay or Child Labour, were other types of low cost labour in colonies.

Responses to Slavery Slaves were treated brutally but few people outside of plantations really knew exactly what conditions were like. In the late 1700’s, books like former slave Olaudah Equiano’s autobiography began to reveal to the public the realities of slave life. The abolitionist movement began to grow and many countries made slavery illegal in the 19th century. The Emancipation Act of 1833 outlawed slavery throughout the British Empire.

The Grand Exchange New foods discovered in colonies were brought back to Europe and changed the diet of the world forever---known as the Grand Exchange. Sugar (from sugar cane) from Caribbean to Europe. Wheat, oats and barley from Europe to North America. Coffee originally from Africa imported to and grown in Latin America. Cacao (used to make chocolate) from Latin America to Europe. Cattle, pigs, poultry from Europe to the New World. Tea from Asia to Europe. People began to depend on these foods on a regular basis---this was a key factor in historical globalization…why?...increased interconnectedness and interdependence.

The Industrial Revolution Began in Britain the 1700’s; steam power was the most notable innovation during this period as it had many applications. Consumers were demanding more goods and business people were devising ways to provide goods in a quick, cost-effective way. (mass production, assembly lines) Technology was used to develop machines that could manufacture goods more rapidly and relied less on human labour.

Prior to this period goods were usually hand made in homes or by tradesmen. Goods were now produced by large machines in factories employing workers to run them. This new way of working, in factories, led to economic, social and cultural changes in Europe. The raw materials necessary to ‘feed’ this new industrial society were provided through mercantilism and imperialist practices.