GG102 Lecture 6: October 20
Document Summary
World-system theory helps us explain how the world has become what it is today: A globally integrated system in which states and corporations compete for resources, territory, and power. Crucial: the periphery was and is disadvantaged in this competition. Because the core sets the conditions (feedback) Which is why we continue to have rich [former colonial] and poor [former colonized] countries. Early start (britain) [financed and resourced by colonies] The world does not function as one yet. Instead, the world consists of a number of regions that more or less exist independently of each other. Europe is insignificant in global terms: low population, sparse infrastructure, primitive technology, unrefined culture. Meanwhile, india, arabia, and in particular china dominate their respective political, economic, and cultural spheres. They also trade some goods, among them spices. 1400: europeans begin to learn existence of spices and learn about the existence of spices and look for ways to obtain them: start of exploration.
