The century following the first contacts among Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Americas brought some of the most momentous c
hanges in world history: a dramatic reconfiguration of human populations across the globe, new patterns of trade and warfare, and immense challenges to people's' worldviews. Thinking about our contemporary world, what monumental changes are currently affecting our lives? How would you compare them with the events described in this chapter?
There are several monumental changes that are currently affecting our lives and the world as we know it. Two important ones are globalization and international migration.
Globalization is a present phenomenon that has an enormous impact in the way we live our lives and understand our world. A globalized world is one in which the cultures of different places begin to resemble each other. Moreover, it is one in which people exchange ideas and culture at a distance (through trade and technology). It also leads to the spread of a dominant culture. This phenomenon resembles the Columbian Exchange, because trade also played an important role in that process. Moreover, it also resulted in the domination of Western culture and the loss of traditional ones.
Another example is that of international migration. Nowadays, a significant percentage of the population of the world lives in a place that is different from the place where they were born. When people move to a different country, they usually take their culture and traditions with them, influencing the culture of their new home. This is similar to the enormous movement of people that took place during the Columbian Exchange.
