How the Columbian Exchange Brought Globalization

Running head: CHAPTERS’ SUMMARY
Chapter’s Summary
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1CHAPTER’S SUMMARY
In Chapter 13 of “Ways of the World” book by Robert Strayer, he has discussed
about the political transformations during 1450 to 1750 in America (Strayer and Nelson
2016). The chapter introduced many empires of the early modern period and emphasised on
the notion that the empire building at those times was not just a western European
phenomenon. The chapter explored several colonial societies that were evolved and the
reasons behind their differences. Furthermore, the chapter has also examined the rise of
Ottoman Empire, Mughal Empire and the Qing Dynasty. It addresses the biological effect of
the Columbian Exchange as well as the decline of the great demographic in Americas that
was a result of several epidemic diseases. On the other hand, Chapter 14 has discussed about
the economic transformations during the same period. Atlantic slave trade reminds of the
great importance of this commerce among the human beings for the early modern world and
about its continuing echoes during the 20th century (Strayer and Nelson 2016). By this time,
the Europeans smashed their path into the ancient spice trade of Indian Ocean and started
developing their relationships with the other Asian societies. Furthermore, the silver that was
enriched from the mines in the Spanish America helped in enriching Europe. The chapter also
sheds light on the fact that the 1497-1499 voyage of Vasco da Gama was not an accident.
Chapter 15 is based on the globalisation of Christianity. It is clear from the chapter
that Christianity was limited to Europe in the early modern era. In the year 1500,
Christendom expanded to England from Spain and to the West Russia. The religion was
divided into the Roman Catholic of Central and Western Europe as well as the Eastern
Orthodox of the Eastern Europe (Strayer and Nelson 2016). Reformation started in 1517
when Martin Luther invited a debate publicly on different abuses within the Roman Catholic
Church. He provoked high social tensions and massive schism along with religious
differences. In order to ease the tensions, there were many efforts for domesticating the
foreign practices and ideas. Jesuits in China tried for pointing out the similarities among

2CHAPTER’S SUMMARY
Confucianism and Christian. The period of global borrowing and its linked tensions stepped
up more like Europe’s modern transformation unfolded in the nineteenth century.
Revolutionary movements of 18th century are the most notable part of Chapter 16.
These movements develop a clear break in a manner in which the historians organise
chronological historical periods (Strayer and Nelson 2016). The chapter has explored the
global results of diffusion of the Enlighten thought by means of shedding light on the
examples of how these thought affected the European and Caribbean revolutions and the way
in which they influenced the national identity and labour systems. Chapter 17 is about
revolutions of industrialisation. Industrial revolution was one among the most significant
elements of the modern transformation of Europe as it drew on some significant scientific
revolution and pushed the country into a position of global dominance. The chapter further
sheds light on the differences between the same in Russia and in United States.
Strayer’s Chapter 18 is about the colonial encounters in Africa and Asia during 1750
to 1950. There were certain developments that extended into the middle of the 20th century in
this chapter and again it is a very lengthy chapter. It was the time when the European
exploration and the mercantilist policies fuelled the Western colonialism during the early
modern era colonialism. The modern era was very closely linked with industrialisation.
Chapter 19 is the fourth and the final chapter in the modern unit. With the same, it is the
shortest of all. Strayer in this chapter has described on three different societies who come into
direct conflict with the west (Strayer and Nelson 2016). The first is the China, the second is
Ottoman Empire of Islamic civilisation and lastly, Japan. Chapter 20 has elaborated on the
First World War, its impact and its implications for Europe. It was a major calamity for both
Europe and Germany and was considered to be the war to end all wars. In Chapter 21,
Mohandas Gandhi of India is regarded as the “father” of India for his moral and political
support that helped the country to achieve independence. The chapter also sheds light on the

3CHAPTER’S SUMMARY
Iron curtain, the outcome of Chinese initiative for forming “people’s communes” during the
Great Leap Forward, the Marshall Plan, Cold war and World War II.
Chapter 22 is all about the technology revolution that restricted the global economy.
It helps in shifting in the socio-technological paradigm, which underlies the present
sophisticated industrial structure (Strayer and Nelson 2016). This paradigm comprises of a
mass production of the essentially standardized goods in the ever-larger units and much
emphasis is laid on the quantitative goals for the production. Chapter 23 is divided into three
categories- global conflict, globalisation and the science and environment. The rapid
understanding and advancement in science changed the understanding of the natural world
and that of universe and resulted in the development of the new technologies.

4CHAPTER’S SUMMARY
References:
Strayer, Robert W., and Eric Nelson. Ways of the world: A global history with sources.
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2016.
Strayer, Robert W., and Eric W. Nelson. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with
Sources (Volume 2, Since the Fifteenth. Bedford/St. Martins, 2016.