Unit 2

HISTORICAL GLOBALIZATION

• Although there is no definitive start to globalization, it is generally agreed upon that globalization began with trade. It resulted in the exchange and sharing of goods and ideas which connected people to each other ( Cultural Contact) and changed the way that people lived both positively and negatively.

ROUND 1- Silk Road

• The Silk Road was a network of caravan tracks that linked Europe and Asia in the 3rd century BC. Routes like these allowed goods and knowledge and goods to be traded.
• Goods traded: Cotton, silk, incense, olives, jade, animals, ivory
• Knowledge traded: Indo-Arabic number system, astronomy, religion, recipes, math, medicine, science, technology.

ROUND 2- Christopher Columbus

• This round began with the first journey of Columbus in 1492. It was motivated by the emergence of capitalism, industrialization, colonialism, Eurocentrism, and imperialism.

ROUND 3- Contemporary

• This round refers to the significant events after WW2; it is a time of rapid growth of world markets and near-instant communications.

FOUNDATIONS

• Although transportation was primitive in the early years of globalization, some people saw the economic opportunities of trade and made the difficult journey. Others were motivated by adventure, such as Christopher Columbus. Although goods and ideas were exchanged throughout Round 1, it did not occur as rapidly or as widespread as during Round 2.
• The Grand Exchange: A process that began in 1493 with the second journey of Columbus where goods were introduced to the Americas and Europe that quickly became staples.

NEW IDEOLOGIES

• Capitalism: An economic system that advocates free trade, competition, and choice as a means of achieving prosperity.
• Mercantilism: A system where a home country gains wealth by obtaining raw material from a colony, processing it, and selling it back to the colony at a jacked up price.
• Colonization: One nation takes control over another by establishing and maintaining colonies there. This allowed them to expand their territory with people who remained loyal to their homeland.
• Monopolies: A single entity owns all or almost all of the market for a certain product or service. This allows them to charge a higher price
• Eurocentrism: Europeans believe that their way of life is superior.

INDUSTRIALIZATION

• Industrialization is the replacement of animal and human power with machines. This led to an increase in produced goods, so Europeans used colonies as an extension of the market.
• Industrialization also led to improved transportation technologies, so transportation became more frequent, safer, and quicker. In addition to this, Europeans quickly realized that they could profit even more by using slave labour.

KEY POINTS ABOUT SLAVERY

• It started as an alternative for imprisonment and execution.
• It grew in popularity because of the growing need for colonial labour.
• Chattel slavery: Slaves and their descendants are property with no rights.
• Indentured labourer: Used temporary slavery as a ticket to the colonies; only worked for 4-7 years

IMPACTS ON INDIGENOUS

• Trade agreements for furs
• Reserves created to free up farmland
• Treaties to marginalize
• Indian Act, 1867
• Residential schools
• Replaced traditional names with European names/ a number

LEGACIES ON INDIGENOUS

• Mistrust
• Residential schools
• Left lasting mental health affects; cycle of abuse
• ​​​​​​​Loss of culture and way of life

ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS

• Closed residential schools
• Royal commission for Aboriginals
• Constitution Act
• Truth and reconciliation commission
• Indian Residential School Settlement agreement