The New World and Globalization

Paper Summary:

The paper attempts to show how the conquerors' exploitation of the New World had global effects. The paper discusses the prominence of direct trading and general contact between the East and West, the global diffusion of plants and animals as well as intercontinental migrations of people. The paper further discusses how multicultural societies consisting of people from multiple continents were both encouraged and created. The paper therefore argues that the discovery and subsequent exploitation of the New World set in motion the first true instances of globalization.

From the Paper:

"Perhaps the most obvious link between the discovery of the New World and Globalization is the fact that it increased direct trade between continents. How this happened can be seen through three factors. Firstly, the Americas were made into a production centre of valuable raw materials for the world market. This came to be by huge gold and silver deposits being exploited, from which over 32 million pounds of silver and 360,000 pounds of gold were exported between 1503 and 1660. This was added to by cash crops which produced sugar, wheat and other common commodities that also became major exports. Secondly, vast ranges of exotic commodities were found, put on the global market and very quickly became highly sought after. These came in the form on Spices, foods and furs of which paprika, tobacco, cocoa, potatoes and beaver pelts were paramount. The demand for these goods created extensive trade among continents that otherwise wouldn't have existed."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Jerry H. Bentley, and Herbet F. Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective of the Past, Vol II: From 1500 to the Present, 3rd Ed, McGraw Hill, New York, 2006.
• Naya Chanda, 'Coming Together: Globalization means reconnecting the human community', <yaleglobal.yale.edu/about/essay.jsp>, 28 March 2007.
• Colin Clark, Population Growth and Land Use, St Martin's Press, New York, 1967.
• Day of the Dead, 'Planeta', www.planeta.com/ecotravel/resources/dead.html, 30 March 2007.
• Bernal Diaz, The Conquest of New Spain, trans. By J.M. Cohen, Penguin Books, Baltimore, 1965.

More papers on The New World and Globalization:

• Book Review # 128630 : "The Second World" and Globalization"
• Argumentative Essay # 69115 : "New World Order"
• Analytical Essay # 25785 : "An Analysis of the New Globalization"

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