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This was the era of the technological revolution. The cell phone and the internet appeared. During this period the international financial system that was created after WWII (known as the Bretton Woods System) collapsed and was replaced with free market fundamentalism (Neoliberalism). This is a period of unprecedented economic growth, and unprecedented economic inequality. This era has been referred to as the 'footloose' phase of capitalism.
Significant Developments:
1. Cheaper shipping costs drastically reduced: 1,500 companies make 26,000 US port calls a year while more than 50,000 container loads of imports and exports from 175 countries are handled every day. Ocean-freight unit costs have fallen by 70%.
2. Human created climate change became a reality.
3. Corporations account for 50 of the largest economies, giving them unprecedented power to influence governments.
4. New technologies threaten to replace humans and change the way humans work and interact.

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The Contemporary Period (1980 - Present)

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The Contemporary Period (1980 - Present)

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In this period European colonial powers essentially divided the planet into colonies where they disregarded the cultures and economies that weren't European in nature. Resources were stolen and sent back to Europe to assist with industrialization and creating new capitalist markets. Global capitalism and the economic inequalities it created fostered the development of workers movements and the idea of socialism emerged in Europe. Extreme nationalism resulted in two world wars and the eventual emergence of the First World, Second World and the Third World. Decolonization and the creation of the United Nations saw a reduction in economic inequalities for the first time in global capitalisms history and witnessed the emergence of true global financial institutions.
Significant Developments:

A global pricing system was agreed upon.

Marketing of brands became prominent. Global American brands like Coca-cola, Pepsi, Levi's and McDonald's were exported around the world;

Railways, ships and air transport facilitated the transfer of manufactured goods -- as well as people. Mass immigration started from one continent to another;

Mass circulation of newspapers, books, films and television began. This not only spread information, but also culture;

Telecommunications (telephone) in the later part of this period allowed humans to communicate with friends, family and business partners anywhere around the globe.

Dramatic increase world trade.

Emergence of a 'genuine global infrastructure'.

Enormous waves of immigration, mass migration, urbanization, colonial competition and liberalization of world trade.

Nuclear War became a possibility.

The Cold War

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During this period, the "great thinkers" and philosophers like Adam Smith were born.  The discussions which took place in cafes and universities led to the creation of the modern capitalist system.It is hard to believe that it was such a long time ago, but this economic ideology has endured for hundreds of years.

During this period, there was increasing exchange of goods and services.  To keep production of goods at a reasonable (and profitable) rate, workers were needed. In particular, more low-cost workers were in demand. One way to fulfill this need was to buy slaves and obtain indentured labourers from Africa, Indian, China -- and many other non-European countries.  Slaves and labourers were used to work in many industries agriculture, factories and homes. The mass population transfer of the workers resulted in suffering and death of millions of non-Europeans.

Certainly, you know about slaves being used as labourers in North America. According to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, between 1525 and 1866, 12.5 million slaves were taken from Africa and shipped globally.  Approximately 2 million died during travels.

Significant Developments:
1. European Enlightenment: emergence of objective sciences, universal form of morality and law, "rational modes of thought".
2. European driven globalization through using Islamic and Chinese technological inventions. Innovation in mechanized printing, sophisticated wind and water mills, extensive postal systems, revised maritime technologies, and advanced navigation techniques. Emergence of ideas of 'liberal' individualism and limited government.
3. Emergence of "merchant class" in Europe. Individualism and unlimited material accumulation contributed to the 'capitalist world system".
4. Emergence of nation-states.
5. Beginning of European colonialism.

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In this period, major inventions appeared, including the wheel and writing. The wheel allowed for the more distant travel, using the horse and buggy.
The development of transportation, along with the invention of writing, allowed for human beings to communicate to friends/family far away. Messages were taken by an informal postal service -- letters were delivered by messengers on horses.  Consider this the early form of the "post office".

This was also the time when the Chinese influenced the world with knowledege in chemistry, mathematics and astronomy. Chinese inventions included the mechanical clock, paper, silk and the compass -- all of which were huge contributions to the world.
At this point, the Silk Road was formed. The Silk Road was a trade route that was used throughout the Asian continent and linked east and west. It was significant due to not just its economic benefits, but also its facilitation of cultural exchanges. The Silk Road provided numerous advantages but also brought some problems. Because of the interaction among humans on this route, disease spread rapidly (whereas before, it would have been contained in one area).
Significant Developments:
1. Permanent roads.
2. Age of Empires: Egyptian Kingdoms, Persian Empire, Macedonian Empire, Aztecs and the Incas, Roman Empire, Indian Empires, Byzantine Empire, Islamic Caliphates, Holy Roman Empire, Ghana Empire, Mali Empire,  Ottoman Empire, and the Chinese Empire.
3. Chinese Empire turned inward.
4. Emergence of World Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
5. Global diseases: bubonic plague (killed 1/3 of the population of China, the Middle East, and Europe)

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The Pre-modern Period (3500 BCE - 1500 CE)

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The Pre-modern Period (3500 BCE - 1500 CE)

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The Pre-historic Period (10,000 BCE - 3500 BCE)

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The Pre-historic Period (10,000 BCE - 3500 BCE)

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In this period of history, there was not much connection among humans. In this era, humans began to settle down. Previously, human beings led a nomadic life -- they frequently moved from place to place, not giving them much close or stable interaction with other communities. However, this changed.
During this time, humans began to "settle down". Instead of moving often, tribes opted to stay in one place. This allowed for proper housing to be built, and animals (cows, pigs, sheep, chicken) were domesticated in order to feed the population. This resulted in communities for the first time in human history. Towns and cities were formed and more structure was implemented.

Due to the limits in technology, globalization was not widespread. However, as more towns and cities were created, social connections were made. The decentralized, egalitarian nature of hunter and gatherer groups was replaced by centralize and highly stratified patriarchal social structures. Different "classes" of people began to appear such as "craft specialists" and bureaucrats and soldiers