A Big History of Globalization, Vol. I

The second edition of this book presents an updated history of globalization as a network-based story in the context of Big History. The authors trace the emergence, growth, interconnection, and merging of various types of networks from pre-historic times to modernity. They also focus on the development of certain ideas, processes, institutions, and phenomena that spread through those networks to become truly global. The book specifies seven macro-periods in the history of globalization from the Big Bang to World War I. For each period, it identifies the most important network-related developments that had the greatest impacts on the history of globalization. By analyzing the World System's transition to new levels of complexity and connectivity, the book provides valuable insights into the course of Big History and the evolution of global networks, processes, and institutions.