CHAPTER 2The World Today

STONE AGE PEOPLE

Learned to make stone tools and weapons

Nomadsmigrated across a wide area

adapted to different climates and landforms

Agricultural Revolutionlearned to farm and domesticate

animalsled to permanent communitiessupported larger populationsdevelopment of new forms of

government

First Civilizations

Nile River ValleyIndus Valley

Huang He Valley

Common Features

Well-organized governmentsComplex religions

Specialized skills and jobsSocial classes

Methods of record keeping

The World in 1300

Islamic rule from Spain to ChinaAztecs in Mexico

Incas in South AmericaSmall European kingdoms

Emergence of Europe

Late 1400s Beginning of the Renaissance

Rediscovered the learning of ancient civilizationsScientific discoveries and practical inventions

Adapted technologies - DiffusionFrom barter economy to money economy

Spain, Portugal, England, France built colonial empires

Mid-1700sSecond Agricultural Revolution and Industrial Revolution

Agricultural Revolution

Main CausesNew plants from the Americas

Improved farming methodsNew farm machines

Industrial Revolution

Key FeaturesMachines replaced hand tools

Steam and electricity took the place of human and animal power

Imperialism

Industrialization set off a new wave of European expansion overseasNeed for raw materials

Need for new markets for manufactured goods

Imperialism control by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of

another country or region Westernization

adoption of western culture Imperialist nations felt that western culture was better than the

cultures of other regionsEuropean efforts to transform other cultures met with limited

successNationalism

pride in and loyalty to one’s countryNationalism spread in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

Leaders fought to end foreign control

The Developing World

Economic Patterns

Imperialist encouraged people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to grow cash crops

Then sold manufactured goods to less-developed countriesless developed countries became dependent on the imports

local economies based on crafts declined

Goals of Modernization

Political StabilityEconomic Diversity

Education and Services

Loans and Debt

Developing countries need money to modernizebecomes necessary to borrow from wealthy nations

World financial crisis means borrower nations can not pay debtLender nations have tried debt relief

Lender nations have become cautious in making loans

Problems of Development

Population Explosionmore than 3/4 of the world population live in the developing world

Why the explosion?Improved health care

Traditions and religious beliefs about large families

Urbanization

Push to industrialize leads to rapid growth of citiesPuts strain on cities

Cannot keep up with needsHousing, schools, basic health and sanitation services

Rapid population growth and failure to modernize has widened the gap between developing and developed nations

Growing Interdependence

International and Regional Organizations

United Nations (UN)

Organization of American States (OAS)

African Union (AU)

Issues of Global Concern

Refugees

Hundreds of thousands flee every year

Flee to escape poverty, war, harsh governments

Drug Trade

PovertyCan only be ended by nations

working together

Terrorism

Driven by extreme political or religious causes

Violence to achieve political goals

Environment

Threats to the environmentDestruction of rainforest

Pollution of water, air, soilChemical and nuclear plant

accidents

Global Economy

Economic links have grown stronger

Events in one region can affect the world

Human Rights

Helsinki Agreement

Basic Human RightsFreedom of speech, religion and

the press

Technology and the Future

Development of hard crops to feed the world’s populationNew Medicines to combat disease

Work to predict or control natural disastersRapid cultural change because of the Internet, cell phones,

fiber optics