Globalization Timeline - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, figures, and developments from Silk Road to Globalization 4.0 as described in the lecture notes.

Silk Road

A vast network of land trade routes (circa 130 BCE to 1450s CE) connecting China to Europe, enabling exchange of goods, ideas, religions, and technologies.

Traded items on Silk Road

Silk, spices, precious stones, glass, paper, and artworks exchanged along the Silk Road.

Spread of Buddhism along Silk Road

Buddhism spread from India to China via Silk Road routes.

Spread of Islam along Silk Road

Islam moved into Central Asia through exchanges on the Silk Road.

Zhang Qian

Chinese explorer credited with opening the Silk Road.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant whose travels to China inspired European interest in Asia.

Silk Road decline

By the 1450s, sea trade became more efficient and safer, reducing Silk Road importance.

Spice Routes / Maritime Silk Road

Sea-based trade route (7th–15th c.) carrying spices from Southeast Asia and India to the Mediterranean.

Spices traded

Cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Key spice ports

Calicut (India), Malacca (Malaysia), and Zanzibar (East Africa) as major hubs.

Islamic empires and trade

Islamic empires fostered trade and cultural exchange across regions.

Columbian Exchange

Exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and other continents during the Age of Exploration.

Age of Exploration

15th–17th centuries when Europeans sought new trade routes and wealth, leading to colonial empires and cultural exchange.

Christopher Columbus

Reached the Americas in 1492 while seeking new routes to Asia.

Vasco da Gama

Sailed around Africa to India in 1498, opening a sea route to Asia.

Ferdinand Magellan

His expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the globe.

Industrial Revolution

1700s–1800s shift from handmade to machine-based production, starting in Britain and fueling global trade and empire.

Steam engine

Engine improved by James Watt that powered factories and transport.

Spinning Jenny

Early spinning machine; hand-powered version patented by James Hargreaves in 1770.

Power loom

Mechanized loom that automated weaving during the Industrial Revolution.

Urbanization

Rapid growth of cities as a consequence of industrialization and new production methods.

Global capitalism

Economic system expanding with industrialization, linking nations through production and trade.

Modern Globalization

1945–1990 era of postwar cooperation (UN, IMF, World Bank, GATT), Cold War divisions, and rising global interconnection.

United Nations (UN)

International organization founded in 1945 to promote cooperation and reduce barriers among nations.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Financial institution created to promote international monetary cooperation and financial stability.

World Bank

Institution established to support reconstruction and development after World War II.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

Multilateral trade agreement (1947) aimed at reducing tariffs and barriers to trade.

Cold War

Tension between Western capitalist and Eastern communist blocs shaping globalization in the modern era.

Globalization 4.0

1990s–present phase driven by digital tech, the internet, AI, and global networks, enabling real-time collaboration and digital trade, with new challenges like misinformation and privacy concerns.