Globalization and history Lesson 3

Is Globalization a new phenomenon? Where do you find evidence of globalization? How is the past connected with recent developments? Is Globalization a new phenomenon?

HISTORY

How far can we extend the chain of causation that brought us to Globalization? 4 hypothesis: 1) Globalization is only post-1989 2) Globalization from 19th century 3) Globalization as modernity 4) Globalization “unfolding” for millennia When is Globalization?

All hypothesis stress important points: global exchanges since the 70-80s, industrial revolution, world commercial trade routes, ancient civilizational development So keep in mind that: A) Globalization is a long term process B) There are distinct qualitative thresholds C) Involves major regions and cultures of the planet (no Eurocentric perspectives) Some “tenets”

Historical Periods in Global history The prehistoric period (10.000 BCE – 3500 BCE) The pre-modern period (3500 BCE – 1500 CE) The early modern period (1500 – 1750) The modern period (1750 – 1970) The contemporary period (from 1970) Historical Periods in Global history

The agricultural shift: after humanity spill over Africa and spread in the majority of the world lands, some groups learn how to produce their own food: crops and livestocks About 10.000 years ago some humans (home sapiens sapiens) changed their basic social structures of hunters and gatherers to turn them into peasants. From egalitarian societies to centralized/stratified ones Prehistoric period

From simple division of labor to differentiation of layers: chiefs and priests exempted from manual work Craft specialists: new technologies Bureaucrats and soldiers monopolizing state and violence. No long distance interactions Prehistoric period

Premodern period The invention of writing (3500 BCE) in Mesopotamia: Coordination of complex social activities and large state formation The invention of wheel (3000 BCE) in South-East Asia Animal-drawn carts and permanent roads allow efficient transportation of people and goods. Age of Empires: long-distance communication and exchange of material and immaterial goods (including diseases). Urban centers and migration waves China: best case. Halt in technology left space to Europe Premodern period

Period between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment Period between the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. Europe is the center of world development: takes benefits of Asian and Middle Eastern innovations but invest on the Oceans. Maritime technology + liberal ideas of individualism, limited government and unlimited material accumulation Capitalist World Systems: Westphalian States and Mare Liberum. Caucasian population displaced in the world (religious wars) Early modern period

The world is dominated by European law and morality over the “other” Dramatic increase of world trade (1850-1914): multinational banks, trade companies, energy company and sterling based gold standard Beginning of global commercial promotion campaign and brand name (Coca-cola) and emerging communication coorporation like AT&T and global newspapers. Population explosion and control (surveillance) Nationalism and labour movements: global wars Modern period

End of history (Fukyama) Collapse of the Soviet communism and post-colonialism Emerging of the single global market and the “one-dimensional thinking” Multi-dimensional approach to globalization. Like in a car engine, there are many parts (economy, politics, environment, etc..): you can separate to analyze them but they work together Contemporary period