Chapter Outline

Spread of Civilization

• From its origins in river valleys in Asia and Egypt, civilization has spread throughout the world.
• Major civilizations influenced art, architecture, social structure, and customs.
• Ancient Greek culture can be considered the foundation of Western civilization.

The Importance of Trade

Trade is important for the following practices:

• the distribution of goods
• the introduction of new products
• the introduction of new ideas
• the diffusion of cultures

War and Conquest

War and conquest often lead to the following situations:

• political change
• death and destruction
• cultural change
• domination of a culture over another
• annihilation of states, peoples, and cultures

Age of Exploration

• During the Age of Exploration, Europeans used their superior ships and navigation skills to sail to all the inhabited continents of the world.
• Their superior military equipment, along with their more productive and inventive economies, helped the Europeans dominate and exploit many parts of the world.
• The conquest and exploitation of the New World was also partly the result of the decimation of the indigenous populations by diseases introduced by the Europeans.

Religions and Ideologies

• Religions and ideologies often spread from their land of origin to other places on the globe.
• Today there are four major religions that are dominant across large areas: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• There are other religions, including Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, Shinto, and indigenous religions, which also have millions of followers.
• The twentieth century was marked by the clash of three ideologies: Democracy, Communism, and Fascism.

Globalization

• Electronic media allow us to see and hear images and voices from around the world almost instantaneously.
• Giant multinational corporations do business in many countries around the globe.
• Worldwide organizations, such as the United Nations, work with governments, organizations, and individuals.
• Documents, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, help create the basis for international law.
• Nongovernmental global organizations, such as Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, have become the conscience of the world.
• We face worldwide problems, such as global warming, overpopulation, and global health epidemics.

Addressing Worldwide Problems

The following worldwide problems are being addressed by governmental and nongovernmental organizations:

• disaster relief
• environmental degradation
• health problems
• human rights abuses
• extinction of species
• economic and social justice