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Impact of Technology on Globalization

Apr 7, 2025

Heimler's History: Globalization and Technology in the 20th Century

Introduction to Globalization

  • Focus on the increasing global interconnectedness.
  • Examination of how global wars, migration, and ideologies contributed to globalization.
  • Key player: Technology and Exchange of Goods.

Communication and Transportation Technologies

  • Radio (Early 20th Century):

    • Enabled voice communication over distances.
    • Removed the intermediary filter of news.
    • Used by leaders like FDR for direct communication.
  • Television (Mid 20th Century):

    • Combined audio and visual communication.
  • Cellular Technology (Late 20th Century):

    • Revolutionized instant global communication.
    • Impact example: Seven Yearsโ€™ War communication delay.
    • Rise of Social Media Platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter):
      • Democratized communication.
      • Significant in events like the Arab Spring.
  • Commercial Airlines and Shipping:

    • Reduced physical distances for travel and goods transport.
    • Use of massive shipping containers for efficient logistics.

Energy Technology

  • Transition from coal to petroleum and natural gas in the 20th century.
  • Introduction of Nuclear Energy:
    • Cleaner but risky due to disasters like Chernobyl.
    • More renewable compared to petroleum.

Agricultural Technology

  • The Green Revolution:
    • Development of new grain varieties through genetic engineering.
    • Increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation.
    • Rise of commercial farming: Small farms consolidated into corporate hands.

Medical Technology

  • Antibiotics:

    • Discovery of penicillin in 1928.
    • Revolutionized treatment of bacterial infections.
  • Vaccines:

    • Increased use against diseases like smallpox, measles, and polio.
  • Birth Control:

    • Development of the birth control pill in the 1950s.
    • Led to declining fertility rates globally.

Conclusion

  • The technologies discussed have shaped our modern interconnected world.
  • Educational resources like Heimler's History help in understanding these complex global transformations.
  • Encouragement to engage with educational technology for further learning.