Global Intent
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Global Intent has been defined as “the ambition to encompass the whole planet” and the “emergence of the global world-view” according to Alex MacGillivray in A Brief History of Globalization.[12] In essence, global intent created the path for the emergence of globalization. The beginnings of this world-view began to take shape during the 15th through the 17th centuries, especially in China, India, and the European countries [12]. “Nations competed first to conceive of the globe and explore it and then to circumnavigate it, claim it, and finally straddle it” [12]. Many ideas, inventions, technological advances, and scientists in these countries created the foundations to shape global intent and to advance beyond “flat earth thinking” which was ubiquitous during the early Middle Ages [12]. MacGillivray posits that to develop Global Intent people had to come to the idea that the Earth is neither flat nor large [12].
“The Great Age of Discovery” is another name given to the 15th through 17th centuries in which Global Intent was predominant [3]. “The Great Age of Discovery” is also otherwise known as “the age of the discovery of the sea” [3]. Because of this era of scientific progress, the idea of Global Intent was pushed forth and in later centuries became the beginnings of globalization. As a result, without Global Intent, globalization wouldn’t be as dynamic as it is today.
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[edit] Globalization
The term ‘globalization’ began being used in 1944 and economists began utilizing the term in 1981. According to Claudio Cioffi-Revilla, globalization is “defined as a significant and relatively rapid increase in the size (network diameter) and connectivity of a world system” [3]. Globalization encompasses economic, technical, cultural, political, and social changes which increase interdependence between countries, governments, companies, and people. All of these changes attribute to the process of globalization [8]. Characteristics of globalization include trends which developed post-World War II, such as “greater international movement of commodities, money, information, and people; and the development of technology, organizations, legal systems, and infrastructures to allow this movement” [8].
[edit] Technological advances
The invention of the magnetic compass contributed largely to Global Intent [12]. There is still controversy as to who was the first to create it, but many point to the Chinese, claiming that they had invented the compass along with a lodestone metal-detector in the 3rd century BC [13]. Although it may be true that the invention occurred as early as before Christ, the compass was not applied towards navigation until centuries later [13]. The compass was simply an experiment in magnetism that was refined over many times by the Chinese and was never used on ships until about 900 AD [16]. In the rest of the world, predominantly in western Europe, compass-making and even the concept of magnetism, was not familiarized until the 15th century [16]. “The first person recorded to have used the compass as a navigational aid was Zheng He (1371-1435), from the Yunnan province in China, who made seven ocean voyages between 1405 and 1433” [15]. Today, this proves to be one of the technological achievements that led to a strong global desire.
[edit] Improved mathematics
Improved mathematics also advanced the idea of Global Intent during the 15th through the 17th centuries [12]. Scientists such as Pythagoras, Aristotle, and Eratosthenes created mathematical methods for determining the size of the planet. They were experts in mathematics and influential thinkers (believing that the world was a sphere).
[edit] Pythagoras
Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher and mathematician, was considered to be “the father of mathematics” [12]. He was born in Samos and is widely known for the Pythagorean Theorem. Even though Babylonians had knowledge of the theorem 1000 years prior, Pythagoras may have been first to prove it [11]. He was also one of the first scientists to theorize that the earth was spherical. Although he lacked scientific proof to back his statement, which was later done by Aristotle, Pythagoras believed “the earth, sun and visible planets as a set of harmonious musical spheres” [12]. In addition, it has been stated by the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy that “early Pythagoreans [a society founded at Kroton which followed the theories of Pythagoras] represented numbers and explained their properties by means of dots arranged in certain ‘figures’ or patterns” [6].
[edit] Aristotle
Aristotle was born at Stagirus which was a Greek colony in Thrace. He was born in 384 BCE during his father’s (Nichomachus) reign as court physician to the king of Macedonia. At the age of 17, Aristotle began to study in Athens under Plato. In 347 BCE, Plato passed away and Aristotle went on his own way [5]. Two hundred years after Pythagoras, Aristotle had begun to observe the shape of lunar eclipses and monitored boats as they were leaving the harbor, which showed him that the masts were the last thing to disappear. These among other observations led him to believe that the earth was not only round, but also smaller than anyone had previously thought [12].
[edit] Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes was born in Cyrene and was the first to calculate the circumference of the planet. He had studied in Athens and Alexandria and had become the director of the Great Library there. It was at Alexandria where Eratosthenes learned about how to calculate the altitude of the sun at specific hours of the day [4]. He measured the sun’s shadow at two separate locations, Syene and Alexandria [12]. With these measurements and the assumptions that the sun’s rays are parallel and that the earth is a sphere, Eratosthenes was able to utilize geometry to measure the angle at the Earth’s center. This location was centered between Alexandria and Syene [4]. His calculations led him to believe that the earth was 252,000 stadia, which is equivalent to roughly 157 to 211 meters, therefore; his calculated circumference was between 40,000 and 53,000 kilometers [12]. In addition to being the first to calculate the circumference of the Earth, Eratosthenes “developed the ‘Sieve of Eratosthenes’ method of finding prime numbers smaller than any given number, which, in modified form, is still an important tool in number theory research” [4].
[edit] World maps
MacGillivray explains that without the theories and calculations about the size of the planet, maps wouldn’t have been as accurate. Maps allowed explorers during the 15th through 17th centuries to travel longer distances since the maps portrayed the planet as being smaller than it was originally conceived. Maps such as Ptolemy’s world map which was the first world atlas, the Baghdad Map commissioned by Caliph al-Ma’Mum, and the Kangnido Map which depicted all of Asia, Europe, and Africa were possible as a result of the work of these scientists [12]. Ptolemy’s map was created around the year 150 and extended from the fortune islands in the west to China in the east. He used approximately eight thousand sources to create this map and while he knew it wasn’t perfect it was the most complete world map on the planet for many years to come. His earth was considerably smaller than it really is but it was encouraging for explorers later on. The Baghdad Map was created approximately the year 820 ad by a team of astronomers and geographers by the orders of Caliph al-Ma’Mum [12]. This team was supposed to gain knowledge about the world around the empire in order to expand the kingdom. The map was very accurate for its time and clearly shows a global ambition on the part of the Middle East. The Kangnido map was created by Korea in 1402, utilizing Chinese map-making skills. “The world is very wide, its preface begins, although we do not know how far it is from China in the centre to the four seas at the outer limits” [12]. This map was created before the voyages of Admiral Zheng He and shows China had a very extensive geographical knowledge at a very early time period. The map demonstrates a global view that few had during this time.
[edit] Trade and navigation
In addition to map-making of the new global world, trade also added to the desire for Global Intent. Because of trade, Europeans were motivated to explore naval routes to China and India. Growth of maritime trade led to the need for commercial prospects into the Atlantic; not just within the Mediterranean [12]. Perilous weather that had once made travel outside the Mediterranean nearly impossible became an easier task, as maps were made of the surrounding area and the magnetic compass became a more reliable tool. This growth of maritime trade with northern Europe and longer trade routes added to the necessity for larger ocean-going vessels which could transport “bulky goods” for a smaller cost [12]. An example of one of these larger, more adapt vessels was the Portuguese caravel [12]. The caravel had actually been crafted during the late 1400’s by the Portuguese, but was utilized for the following 300 years [14]. Its initial development allowed for them to travel the African coastline, as well as being able to carry “130 tons of cargo” [14]. Later, these lightweight ships gave way to the Spanish galleons which were “developed in the 1500’s” [14]. These ships were larger and possessed elongated hulls, which allowed them to be more stable in the water and helped with wind resistance. The galleon was used by Europeans up until the early 18th century [20]. Because of the technological advances to ships during the 15th through 17th centuries, Global Intent was on the rise, giving way to explorers such as Christopher Columbus and even later expansions such as the French expansion into North America which began in 1504 [10].
[edit] Major participants
Global Intent was something that many civilizations had but only few had the means to carry out. The Islamic empire was historically the first civilization with both the means and will to become global. China was the strongest example of global intent until it decided to focus on internal affairs. Finally many countries in Europe, specifically Spain and Portugal, began a global expansion of their empires.
[edit] Islamic Empire
The Islamic empire expanded greatly during its golden age between the 8th and 15th centuries. During this time Islamic scientists borrowed from and improved sciences from many other civilizations [18]. The migration of Islam across the continent gave rise to increased trading of technologies because travel back to Mecca was very common among the Islamic faith. This allowed many ideas and goods to be brought into their society. During the Rule of Caliph al-Ma’Mum at the end of the 9th century it is apparent that political expansion was a priority of the empire. The Islamic empire was already trading with China via both sea and land routes. “By the ninth century, Arab Dhows were regularly reaching China” [12]. Events such as this and the creation of the Baghdad Map point to a kingdom that was looking to spread out [12]. The Islamic golden age came to an end around the 13th century due to fighting among the ruling elite and Mongol invasions which therefore halted any global expansion for the Islamic empire.
[edit] China
China had amassed a massive land empire and began to send out sea expeditions around the 15th century. Some of the most famous excursions were those led by Admiral Zheng He. Amassing a fleet of over 200 ships with about 28,000 men he set sail at least seven times and traveled along the Southeast Asian islands and to Africa as well [21]. After Zheng He’s last voyage the Chinese empire put a halt on all exploration and turned inward. At the end of the 15th century China had forbid any building of ocean going ships and completely halted their global intent due to a massive resource requirement for the Great Wall and irrigation canals throughout the country [19]. Not until very recently has China been a major player in globalization again.
[edit] Europe
Perhaps most well known is the global intent of most coastal European countries. Portugal sailed down the coast of Africa in search of a route to the east, Spain financed Columbus’ trip to the Americas, and others were quick to follow. With the introduction of new naval technologies from the east, further sea expeditions were possible. With this in mind Portugal set out to discover routes to Africa that did not require passage through Islamic territory as it had in the past. Year by year Portugal sailors traveled the African coastline and finally around the end of the 15th century reached India [17]. Spain on the other hand could not follow the African coastline because Portugal already had control of those waters. Instead they funded an operation by Columbus west across the Atlantic. Reaching the Americas in the late 15th century and colonizing in the next, Spain became a real power in the global field. The Treaty of Tordesillas decreed that all land west of the meridian, set 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, was Spain’s and east of that was Portugal’s [17]. Other European nations ignored this papal decree completely and colonized the Americas anyway.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
1. AccountAbility. (2006). About Us. Retrieved December 10, 2006, from AccountAbility Web Site: http://www.accountability21.net/aboutus/default.asp?pageid=5
2. A Quick Guide to the World History of Globalization. Retrieved October 20, 2006, from http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dludden/global1.htm
3. Barry K. Gills and William R. Thompson. (2006). Globalization and Global History. London ; New York : Routledge.
4. EraNET. (2005). Eratosthenes of Cyrene (276-194 BC). Retrieved December 11, 2006, from EraNET Web Site: http://www.eranet.gr/eratosthenes/html/eoc.html.
5. Fieser, James Ph.D. (2006). Aristotle (384-322 BCE): General Introduction. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Web Site: http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/aristotl.htm
6. Fieser, James Ph.D. (2006). Pythagoras (fl. 530 BCE.). Retrieved December 11, 2006, from The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Web Site: http://www.iep.utm.edu/p/pythagor.htm.
7. Gillis, John R. (2003). Islands in the Making of an Atlantic Oceania, 1400-1800. Conference Proceedings.
8. Globalization. (n.d.). Crystal Reference Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 10, 2006, from Reference.com Web Site: http://www.reference.com/browse/crystal/57701
9. Hull, E.H. (1939). Engineering--Ancient and Modern. The Scientific Monthly. pp. 460-463.
10. Jaenen, Cornelius J. (2001). French Expansion in North America. The History Teacher, 34(2), 1.
11. JOC/EFR. (1999). Pythagoras of Samos. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from JOC/EFR Web site: http://www-history.mcs.st- andrews.ac.uk/Mathematicians/Pythagoras.html
12. MacGillivray, Alex. (2006). A Brief History of Globalization: The Untold Story of Our Incredible Shrinking Planet. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers.
13. Seamon, Richard. (2001, October). The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention That Changed the World. United States Navel Institute. Proceedings, 127, 117. Retrieved October 21, 2006, from Proquest database.
14. The History Place. (2005). Caravel: A Revolutionary Sailing Ship. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from The History Place Web Site: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/c/caravel.shtml
15. The History Place. (2005). History of the Compass. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from The History Place Web Site: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcompass.htm
16. The History Place. (2005). Invention of the Compass. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from The History Place Web Site
17. Age of Discovery
19. Ming Dynasty
20. Spanish galleon
21. Zheng he
