Have you ever wondered how the world became so interconnected and interdependent? How did people, goods, ideas, and diseases travel across continents and oceans? How did different cultures, religions, and political systems interact and influence each other? How did global events shape the lives of ordinary people in different regions?
If you are curious about these questions, then you will love this chapter. In this chapter, you will learn about the history of the making of a global world from the 15th century to the 20th century.
You will explore how trade, migration, colonialism, imperialism, wars, revolutions, and social movements shaped the world we live in today.
Some of the topics you will cover in this chapter are:
-
The premodern world:
How people and goods moved across regions before the advent of modern transport and communication technologies. 🐫🚢
-
The age of exploration:
How European explorers and traders ventured into new lands and seas in search of spices, gold, and other commodities. 🗺️🌶️💰
-
The Columbian exchange
: How the contact between Europe and the Americas led to the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and people. 🌽🐷🦠👩👩👧👦
-
The slave trade
: How millions of Africans were forcibly taken to work in plantations and mines in the Americas and elsewhere. ⛓️🛳️🌴⛏️
-
The rise of capitalism:
How the expansion of trade and commerce created new forms of production, consumption, and finance. 💹🏭🛍️💳
-
The industrial revolution
: How the development of new technologies and machines transformed the economy, society, and environment. 🚂🧵🏙️🏭
-
The 19th century world:
How imperialism, nationalism, and liberalism shaped the political map of the world. 🗺️👑🇫🇷🗽
-
The first world war:
How the outbreak of a global conflict affected millions of lives and changed the balance of power. 💥⚔️😢⚖️
-
The interwar years:
How the aftermath of the war led to economic depression, social unrest, and political turmoil. 💸😞✊🏽🔥
-
The second world war:
How another global war unleashed unprecedented violence and destruction. 💣✈️☠️💥
The postwar world: How the emergence of new superpowers, decolonization movements, cold war tensions, and globalization reshaped the world order. 🇺🇸🇷🇺🇮🇳☢️✈️
By studying this chapter, you will gain a deeper understanding of how
the world became what it is today
. You will also develop critical thinking skills to analyze historical sources and perspectives. You will also appreciate
the diversity and complexity of human experiences
across time and space.
😊