The Making of a Global World  

[Audio] Good morning everyone! Today we are going to explore the connections and transformations that have deeply shaped our global world. We will look at the growth of transportation and communication technologies, as well as the impacts of colonialism in the 19th century. Using this backdrop, we will focus on how goods like food, cotton, rubber, and spices traveled across the world. To start us off, let's take a closer look at this image of feathers to open up a conversation about the connections between our global past and present..

[Audio] Globalization has been a major influence in forming economies and the manner in which societies connect and communicate. With expanding interconnectivity, we are creating a globally-oriented world. The close up of feathers in this slide symbolizes this process, like a bird's feathers which originate from different parts of the world. The feathers can exemplify the motion of thoughts, goods and people worldwide. Globalization has had a deep influence on our current world and will continue to affect our future..

[Audio] The Silk Routes were a series of trading routes connecting the East to the West, made up of both land and sea routes that stretched from the Far East to Europe and Northern Africa. Chinese silks, spices, and other goods traveled through these routes, allowing for a exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas throughout the pre-modern world. This exchange of goods and ideas had a significant impact on the world we live in today..

[Audio] Exploring how the global spread of food has changed our diets, we'll look at two iconic examples: spaghetti and potatoes. Noodles were known in China as early as 3000BC, however it was not until Marco Polo's travels in the 13th century that Italian pasta - what we know as spaghetti - was introduced to Europe. Similarly, many vegetables and grains that dominate global cuisine were only introduced to Europe and Asia after Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World. Cultural exchange after this period altered the way people consumed food, allowing different countries to sample flavors from around the world..

[Audio] Feathers are a perfect symbol of the journey we've taken toward creating a global world. The combination of different cultures throughout history, be it by conquest, disease, or trade, has had an immense impact. Precious metals from the mines of Peru and Mexico allowed Europe to trade with Asia. Meanwhile, the Spanish used smallpox to conquer the Americas. Even up until the 18th century, China and India were the wealthiest countries while Europe suffered from poverty and hunger. The blending of countries and cultures throughout history and the impacts of those events are both complex and far-reaching..

[Audio] Good morning students. The slide you are viewing now shows a close-up of feathers. This image is symbolic of how the world was connected in the 19th century. In the late 18th century, growth in the population increased the demand for food grains. To cope with that demand, food was imported into Britain from other countries, mainly using railways and shipping. It was not only food that was imported, but also cotton, rubber, coal and other products. This connected the world in a new way, creating global trade networks. That is why this image of feathers is significant. Thank you..

[Audio] Today, we're going to explore the role of technology in an increasingly global world. Starting in the 19th century, inventions such as railways, steamships, and the telegraph revolutionized communication, transportation, and production. These advances enabled humans to go places and do things we previously couldn't, and this had huge implications for global trade and communication. One example of this was how the introduction of refrigerated ships enabled the slaughter and transportation of animals to Europe as frozen meat. This technology dramatically changed the foods we ate and how fast they could be transported around the world, and it helped to create a more globalized world..

[Audio] The late 1800s saw a significant shift in the makeup of the world. European powers went out in search of new colonies, claiming vast swathes of Asia and Africa for imperial rule. As a result, Belgium and Germany began to become colonial powers in their own right, while the USA found itself in the position of a colonial power in the late 1890s, taking over a number of colonies formerly held by Spain. Clearly, this period is an important one in the making of today's global world..

[Audio] This slide features a close up of feathers - a physical reminder of the very real consequences of the cattle plague of the late 1880s. The cattle plague, known as Rinderpest, spread quickly through Africa as a result of imported cattle from British Asia. This spread had a devastating impact on African livestock, with some areas losing up to 90 percent of their cattle. This, in turn, had a profound effect on the political landscape of the continent, as the colonial governments used the opportunity to increase their power and force Africans into the labour market..

[Audio] Feathers can be symbols of freedom. They represent the ability of flight, of moving, of journey - something that so many people have been unable to do throughout history. This slide focuses on the history of Indentured Labour Migration from India. In the 19th century, thousands of Indian and Chinese labourers went abroad to work in plantations, mines, and other infrastructure projects. Often, agents providing false information about the work and the destination. When they arrived, the labourers experienced harsh living and working conditions. This practice was abolished in 1921..

[Audio] Indian entrepreneurs played an important role abroad before the Industrial Revolution in England. The Nattukottai and the Chettiars created a strong business system by financing the export of agriculture to Central and South-East Asia while also following the Europeans to Africa. Unfortunately, due to the Industrial Revolution, Indian handicraft and agriculture industries were damaged, leading to an imbalanced trade advantage in Britain's favor with increased exports and decreased imports..

[Audio] Feathers are an integral part of birds, being both lightweight and strong to help them embark on long journeys of thousands of kilometers for their annual migrations. In the same manner, the period between the First and Second World Wars was a critically defining period for the global economy. In this period, the United States experienced major changes, transforming from an international debtor into an international creditor. This shift allowed the US to become a world leader in the economy, setting the groundwork for a global economy..

[Audio] It is clear that after the war ended, the world was presented with a new future. Production had decreased and unemployment had risen, so countries had to find alternative methods to establish economic growth and stability. In this presentation, we will be examining the measures taken to aid in the post-war recuperation and the reconstruction of a bruised world..

[Audio] In the 1920s, a massive surge in economy and mass production and consumption occurred. Henry Ford played a key role in this, introducing an 'assembly line' system. This approach enabled goods to be manufactured rapidly and cost-effectively, causing prices to decrease. This had a tremendous impact on globalisation, as it enabled items to be produced and consumed on an immense scale..

[Audio] The Great Depression of 1929 had a far-reaching impact on the global economy. The 1930s saw the closure of businesses, banks, and loss of employment, resulting in a period of unrest and hardship. Nevertheless, it was a pivotal moment in economic history, as it served as the catalyst for the introduction of concepts such as free trade and international collaboration, in an effort to address the economic hardship and bring about a recovery..

[Audio] Exports and imports of India drastically decreased and prices dropped during the Great Depression. Jute growers from Bengal had to endure particularly harsh outcomes, leading to massive migration from villages to urban areas. This is only one example of far-reaching effects the Great Depression had on India..

[Audio] The Second World War caused immense destruction, and afterwards the USA and the USSR established themselves as the two main superpowers. During the years that followed, they were integral in reconstructing the world economy and forming a post-war order. They both joined key international organizations, such as the United Nations and NATO, and worked to create a sustainable system for global collaboration and cooperation..

[Audio] In 1944, the post-war settlement held at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire, USA, established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The IMF was created to address external surpluses and deficits of its member nations, while the World Bank was intended to finance post-war reconstruction. These two institutions provided the foundation for a more connected international economy, transitioning us away from economic isolationism..

[Audio] Feathers are an apt metaphor for the global world. They may be small and seemingly insignificant, but they form together to create a unique and strong organism. The same is true of the global world, which is made up of a large and complex network of different nations and organizations. In 1947, the Bretton Woods System established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, which allowed participating countries to link their national currencies to the American dollar at predetermined rates. Even today, major decisions at the IMF and World Bank are largely driven by the large industrial powers of the West, particularly the United States. Although the global system appears to be unified, it is built up of a diverse and intricate network of many different players..

[Audio] Decolonization and independence were key factors in the making of a global world. Supported by the United Nations Organization and the Non-Aligned Movement, many countries in Asia and Africa became independent nations. The Group of 77, or G-77, was then established by developing countries to demand a new international economic order, which was known as the New International Economic Order or NIEO and would give these countries real control over their natural resources, raw materials and manufactured goods in their markets. Meanwhile, multination companies, or MNCs, were established in the 1950s and 1960s and operated in several countries. This slide has hopefully given a better idea of how the world became a globalized place and the process of decolonization. Thank you for your attention..