Globalization does not have a single start date; its beginnings can be traced to multiple periods depending on the perspective. The origins of globalization can be traced back as early as the 18th and 19th centuries during the Industrial Revolution with advances in transportation and communication technologies that facilitated increased global interactions and trade. This period marked what is often called the "first globalization," peaking between 1870 and 1914 with expanded international trade, migration, and cultural exchange driven by technologies like the steam engine and steamship, and economic frameworks such as the gold standard. Before this, there was a phase called "proto-globalization" spanning roughly 1600 to 1800, characterized by the rise of European maritime empires (Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British) and expanding global trade networks. Some historians argue globalization roots go even further back to trade routes like the Silk Road, early human migrations, or the Age of Exploration starting in the late 15th century with voyages by Columbus and Vasco da Gama. Another view emphasizes globalization as a modern phenomenon beginning mostly after World War II, with post-war institutional frameworks promoting free trade and global economic integration. In summary, globalization is a complex, evolving process with significant phases:
- Early trade and cultural exchanges from ancient empires and the Silk Road,
- Proto-globalization in the 1600s-1800s via European empires,
- First globalization in the 19th century industrial age (1870-1914 peak),
- Modern globalization post-WWII driven by technological advances and international institutions.
The strongest evidence for large-scale integrated globalization begins in the 19th century industrial era, but the process itself has layered historical roots stretching back centuries or millennia.
