Cold War Era: Economic Systems & Global Impact (1945-1989)
The Cold War Era: 1945-1989
The US-Led Western Political Economy
After World War II, the USA and its allies established a new international system to ensure security and economic growth for the Western capitalist alliance.
- Monetary and Financial System: A dollar-gold standard was established, and the IMF and the World Bank were created. The USA also implemented the Marshall Plan for Europe.
- Increasing Trade Liberalization: The GATT was created, which, despite initial limitations, served as a framework
Pre-Columbian Civilizations: Maya, Aztec, and Inca Empires
Pre-Columbian Civilizations
Maya Civilization
The Maya civilization thrived in the Yucatan Peninsula, a tropical region characterized by rainforests and underground rivers due to its limestone soil. The lack of surface rivers and difficult communication led to the formation of independent city-states. Their primary economic activity was agriculture, supplemented by trade. They practiced slash-and-burn agriculture, which resulted in deforestation and droughts. The Maya were polytheistic, with deities
Read MoreGlobal Silver Trade: 16th-18th Century Economic & Social Impacts
Global Silver Trade: 16th-18th Century Impacts
The global flow of silver from the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century had significant social and economic effects worldwide. Economically, it altered the currency systems of many countries. Socially, it facilitated the exchange of luxury goods across different regions.
Economic Transformations
The rise in global silver flow during the 16th to 18th centuries dramatically changed economies. The Ming Chinese government’s requirement for
Read MoreEarth’s Crust, Plate Tectonics, and Pangaea
The top layer of the Earth’s surface is called the crust (it lies on top of the plates). Oceanic crust (the thin crust under the oceans) is thinner and denser than continental crust. Crust is constantly being created and destroyed; oceanic crust is more active than continental crust.
Type of Crust | Average Thickness | Average Age | Major Component |
Continental Crust | 20-80 kilometers | 3 billion years | Granite |
Oceanic Crust | 10 kilometers | Generally 70 to 100 million years old | Basalt |
Divergent Plate Movement: Seafloor Spreading
Read MoreMaritime Trade, Exploration, and the Habsburg Empire
Maritime Trade and Exploration
1. Trade with Eastern Europe traversed the Mediterranean, reaching Constantinople and crossing Central Asia. In 1459, the conquest of Constantinople forced the search for new sea routes.
2. African Route: Mariners reached the Azores, then the African coast to the Gulf of Guinea. Indian Route: Vasco da Gama led expeditions to the coast of India and the Spice Islands.
3. Christopher Columbus sought a route to the Spice Islands by sailing west across the Atlantic, avoiding
Read MoreHistorical Periods, Sources, and the Ancien Régime
Periods of History
A. Prehistory (3,500,000 BC – 3,500 BC)
- 1. Stone Age (3,500,000 BC – 7,000 BC)
- Paleolithic (3,500,000 BC – 10,000 BC)
- Neolithic (10,000 BC – 7,500 BC)
- 2. Metal Ages (7,500 BC – 3,500 BC)
- Copper Age (3,500 – 2,500 BC)
- Bronze Age (2,500 – 1,300 BC)
- Iron Age (1,300 – 500 BC)
B. History (3,500 BC – Present day)
- 1. Ancient Age (3,500 BC – 476 AD)
- 2. Middle Ages (476 – 1453/1492)
- 3. Modern Age (1453/1492 – 1789)
- 4. Contemporary Age (1789 – Present day)
Historical Sources
Source: something that gives
Read More