The Silk Road (6:01)

Globalization means worldwide interconnections in economy, politics, culture, environment, and communication between individuals, societies, institutions and states and is fostered to a large degree by technical progress. Historians date the beginning of globalization with the discovery of new sea routes and countries. For centuries, the main players were Portugal and Spain. England became the world's leading maritime power (British Empire) in the early 19th century. Starting around 1880, many European countries tried to bring colonies under their influence. Later the USA and Japan followed. But even before the Middle Ages, international trade flows existed between China, Persia and Europe. Knowledge of the development of international economic relations promotes understanding of current geopolitical developments.