Why do some countries suffer poverty and prolonged internal conflict, while others have more stable political, social and economic systems? Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, two of the poorest regions in the world today, were hubs of global trade a few centuries ago. How did the transformation happen? Why did it happen in some regions and not in others? Why were Africans enslaved in millions in the seventeenth century, when slavery had existed in Europe and elsewhere since ancient times? Could the centuries-long trade across the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Southeast Asia be characterized as "free trade"? How global was the industrial revolution?
World History II The world since c CE Instructor: Uma Asher Office: 203 Weaver (MW 12-1 pm, or by appointment) Mailbox: 105 Weaver Website:
Recently in the news Africa’s OlympiansAfrica’s Olympians (08/20/04) World commemorates end of slaveryWorld commemorates end of slavery (08/23/04) Civil war in DarfurCivil war in Darfur (08/23/04) Kenya government rejects Maasai claimsKenya government rejects Maasai claims (08/24/04) Dollars to mangoesDollars to mangoes (08/24/04) Discussion: Are these news items related in any way? Why is Africa so poor? How can it develop? Why are American and European workers losing jobs to Asians, but not so much to Africans? Has there always been such poverty and violence in Africa? Why aren’t we done with slavery??
Capitalism Colonization Decolonization Democracy Dictatorship Ethnic violence Free market Freedom Liberalism Modernity Modernization Nationalism Slavery Trade Tradition Wage labor Westernization
Main Entry: 3 capital Function: noun Etymology: French or Italian; French, from Italian capitale, from capitale, adjective, chief, principal, from Latin capitalis 1 a (1) : a stock of accumulated goods especially at a specified time and in contrast to income received during a specified period; also : the value of these accumulated goods (2) : accumulated goods devoted to the production of other goods (3) : accumulated possessions calculated to bring in income b (1) : net worth (2) : CAPITAL STOCK c : persons holding capital d : ADVANTAGE, GAIN Main Entry: cap·i·tal·ism Pronunciation: 'ka-p&-t & l-"iz-&m, 'kap-t & l-, British also k&-'pi-t & l- Function: noun : an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free marketCAPITAL STOCKADVANTAGE GAINcapital From the Merriam-Webster dictionaryMerriam-Webster
Fifteenth-century items of trade Cotton Dyes Opium Rubber Saltpetre Sugar Silk Silver Spices Tea