Economic Systems in Ancient Civilizations

Economic Globalization

• In the pre-colonial era, economic systems evolved from simple hunting and gathering to agricultural economies, where wealth was measured by the number of sheep or cattle one had.
• Barter trade was practiced, where goods were exchanged for other goods.
• The invention of taxation led to the rise of merchants, who became wealthy social classes.
• The Age of Ancient Empires saw kingdoms invading other kingdoms for economic gains, and wealth was measured by the amount of gold, treasures, agricultural produce, and slaves.
• Money was invented later, and gold became a trading currency.

Economic Systems During Colonialism

• The Age of Mercantilism saw people operating in small concentric circles of trade, with the "Golden Rule" being "he who has the gold, is the one who rules."
• European kingdoms tried to accumulate as much gold as possible, leading to the Age of Discovery, where their operations widened to intercontinental trade.
• Empires became the "center" of the economy, and the overseas colonies became the "periphery" or the sources of raw materials.
• The Industrial Revolution led to Europe becoming the center of economic power, with the "periphery" remaining poor.

Post-Colonial Era

• After World War 2, the Western Powers gave independence to their colonies, but the old economic order remained.
• The 1st World (formerly the Western Powers) continued to flourish economically, while the 3rd World (formerly the colonies) struggled to improve economically.
• The 3rd World countries still exported raw materials to their former colonizers, and in return, received finished products.
• The IMF and WB loaned money to the 3rd World countries, leading to an imbalance where the "center" became richer, and the "periphery" remained poor.

The New World Order

• The 2nd World, or the communist bloc, traded only among themselves.
• The big communist countries exported to smaller communist states, including military hardware.
• With the collapse of communism in the 1990s, the labeling of countries as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd World became outdated.
• The labeling system evolved to "Developed" and "Developing" countries, and later to "Global North" and "Global South."

The Age of Economic Cooperation

• The European Union (EU) was formed, allowing for the relaxation of trade restrictions and the use of a common currency.
• The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed, allowing Arab states to control the prices of petroleum products worldwide.
• The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) operates similarly to the EU, with the relaxation of tariffs among member countries.

Cultural Globalization

• The ASEAN Integration aims to create an EU-like set-up in Southeast Asia, but it is still in its early stages.
• The K12 Program was instituted to allow for the seamless transfer of students from one ASEAN state to another.
• The demarcation line between East and West is in Jerusalem, with the West being Europe and America, and the East being Asia.
• The Middle East and Far East are also referred to as the "Near East" and "The Orient," respectively.

Eastern Culture

• Eastern culture is heavily influenced by Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
• The Far East culture includes China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
• The Middle East culture is heavily influenced by Islam.
• South Asian culture includes India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and is heavily influenced by Hinduism.

Cultural Invasion

• Globalization of culture began during the Age of Colonialism, where Western culture infiltrated the East.

• The West considered their culture superior, and imposed their culture on the East.

• The Filipino culture is unique and a mix of Asian and Western influences.

• Cultural globalization can be seen as a form of cultural invasion, where Western culture is imposed on the East.### Western Culture and Globalization

• Westerners often think their culture is superior, leading to a colonial mentality.

• Examples: Western medicine is considered legitimate, while Eastern medicine is doubted or seen as mythical.

Latin America and South America

• Heavily influenced by Catholicism.
• Cuisine: Spicy food (Mexican).
• Unique dance and music.
• Greeting: Beso-beso.

Globalization of Culture

• The world is developing one culture, and that is Western culture.
• Invention of the printing press led to mass production of writings and print media.
• Advent of mass media: Telegram (mid-1800s), Telephone (late 1800s), Radio Broadcasting (1920s), Television Broadcasting (1940s), Internet (1980s), and Social Media (2000s).

Eastern Culture Gaining Popularity

• Martial arts movies.
• Chinese New Year celebration in the US.
• Yoga fad.
• K-pop invasion.
• Herbal medicine fad.

Social Globalization

• Man is a social being.
• Humans interact with one another; socialization is essential in life.
• Before, face-to-face interaction was the primary means of communication.
• Written communication added to face-to-face interaction: personal letters, edicts of kings, books.
• With the advent of mass media, personal communication shifted online: shopping, banking, job hunting, courtship, and dating.

The Covid-19 Pandemic and Socialization

• The pandemic has changed the way we socialize.
• Questions arise: shall we maintain social distancing, go back to pre-covid days, or adapt to a new normal?
• The pandemic has affected various industries, such as tourism, sports, mass transportation, music, and education.

Globalization of Other Things

• Plants: due to colonization, plants have been dispersed to other places; examples: avocado, rice, durian, cinnamon, and dates.
• Language: languages have spread globally due to colonization; examples: Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French.
• Sports: sports have been globalized, with sports like basketball, volleyball, and baseball originating in the US, and others like cricket, rugby, and taekwondo originating in other countries.
• Food and Beverage: trademark foods and beverages have spread globally, with examples like Coca-cola, hamburgers, spaghetti, and pizza.
• Religion: most major religions originated in Asia, with examples like Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, and have spread globally.