Changing Global relations:
Some may think that Globalization is a product of the modern era, but some historians believe that the early explorers search for New Worlds were the first active Globalization. In the Islamic Golden Age, there were Muslim and Jewish traders and explorers who, in establishing trade routes, shared knowledge of trade, crops and technology. The Age of Discovery reflects the stories of Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus and the like, who, in searching for gold, spices and new countries, globalized whatever countries they traded with.
The 19th century brought the Indutrilization era and with it, increases in trade and discovery at an even faster rate. Problems arose in the 20th century with World War I and the Great Depression, causing a slowing of globalization.
Since World War II, Globalization has mostly resulted from the planning of politicians to overcome the difficulties of inter-country trade to increase the wealth and interdependence of their trading partners, and thus, decreasing the liklihood of war in the future.
With the promotion of free trade came:
- the elimination of tariffs (taxes), the creation of Free Trade Zones
- A reduction in the cost of transporation
- Recognition of intellectual property restrictions - for example, Patents granted by the U.S. would be recognised in China.
Early in the production of communication technology, the Californian Silicon Valley was the progressive centre - but now, according to an article by Steve Schifferes on the BBC news website, "Bangalore, the silicon Valley of India, which is experiencing an unprecedetned IT boom that is transforming the prospects of the Indian economy." The areas of employment and opportunity are on the move.
CULTURAL GLOBALIZATION, created by communication technology and world markets is beginnning the process of homogenisation - making all the cultures the same.
Globalization may seem to be a modern invention, but it seems that it's been around for quite some time.
