|
The Roman Empire began around 100 BCE and dominated Europe, North Africa and much of the Middle East for the next 500 years. At the height of their power the Romans ruled over a quarter of the people on the planet. In the year 476 Rome fell to the 'barbarians' who sacked the city. However, the technologies and culture they had pioneered lay the foundations of western culture. The Eastern half of the Empire known as Byzantium continued for the next 1000 years centered around its capital Constantinople. |
|
The History of Globalization
Civilization
The birth of western civilization was in, what is now called, the Middle East. Around 10 thousand years ago, after the last great Ice Age ended, agricultural communities began to evolve here. As the wealth of these early societies grew, the people began to enjoy a surplus in their food supply and civilization was made possible. There was an increase in trade and certain members of society were freed from the constant toils of survival and could begin to specialize. Using their talents away from working the land, they explored new possibilities in language, technology (including the first metal works and pottery), spiritual beliefs and the arts, all of which resulted in the evolution of culture. Greece is often referred to as 'the cradle of western civilization', but in truth the process had began long before to the East. Empires Richer and more powerful cultures have always sought to grow and expand the size of their territory. Empire building has been part of human history and has shaped the cultures that exist in the modern world. A good example of this was the Roman Empire (27 BC – 476 AD). Civilization was flourishing in the city state of Rome over two and a half thousand years ago. The ruling classes enjoyed a sophisticated culture, and society as a whole enjoyed an infrastructure made possible by the highly advanced technologies employed by the Roman Engineers. Life was a bit tougher of course for the non-Roman slaves that did most of the work! At the beginning of the 1st Century Rome controlled most of Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean and much of the Middle East. However, by the year 476 The Roman Empire was over in Europe and moved East to become the Byzantine Empire, (330–1453) with it's capital city of Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey). The Byzantine Empire survived up until it was defeated and taken over by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire (1299–1923). European Colonialism
The first Europeans to set foot on the American continent were the Vikings from Scandinavia but it wasn't until Italian Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean and South America, and claimed them for Spain, that Europe was technologically advanced enough to exploit this 'new' land. For the next 400 years the countries of Europe were to fight among themselves for control of the territories of The New World, and when they weren't fighting, developed global trade. One particular aspect of this period was the North Atlantic Slave Trade, which was finally brought to an end in the 19th century through the work of William Wilberforce and the Royal Navy (The West Africa Squadron). The British Empire The British Empire became the largest empire in history, built upon financial and military power. By 1922 the British Empire included over 450 million people, about one-fifth of the world's population, at the time, and it covered more than 33,700,000 km2 which is almost a quarter of the Earth's total land area. This was truly a global Empire, made possible by new technologies in transportation, communications, manufacturing and of course the military. It was often said that "The sun never sets on the British Empire", which described how, because of its expanse around the globe, the sun was always shining on at least one of Britain's colonies. After WWII, Britain could no longer maintain control and almost all of it's colonies and dominions achieved independence. |
|
Language
It was Britain that took the English Language around the world, along with other cultural influences, such as, systems of governance, common law, technology and organized sports. Under different circumstances many of these things, including the use of English, may have died off but the next dominating influence on the globe was also an English speaking nation. Because of its rivalry with the USSR (The Cold War), the United States of America vigorously promoted its own culture around the world for most of the 20th century.
It was Britain that took the English Language around the world, along with other cultural influences, such as, systems of governance, common law, technology and organized sports. Under different circumstances many of these things, including the use of English, may have died off but the next dominating influence on the globe was also an English speaking nation. Because of its rivalry with the USSR (The Cold War), the United States of America vigorously promoted its own culture around the world for most of the 20th century.
Worksheets
|
The American Century
|
The Globalization
Debate
|
|
