Globalization and Its Merits and Demerits

editProto-globalization Main articleProto-globalization The next phase, known asproto-globalization, was characterized by the rise of maritime European empires, in the 16th and 17th centuries, first the LusitanianandSpanish Empires, and later theDutchandBritish Empires. In the 17th century, world trade developed further whenchartered companieslike theBritish East India union(founded in 1600) and theDutch East India Company(founded in 1602, often described as the firstmultinational corporationin which stock was offered) were established. 39Animated map exhibit the development of Europeancolonial empiresfrom 1492 to present TheAge of Discoveryadded theNew Worldto the equation,40beginning in the late 15th century. PortugalandCastilesent the first wildcat voyages41around theHorn of Africaand to the Americas, reached in 1492 by the Italian explorerChristopher Columbus. Global trade growth continued with theEuropean colonization of the Americasinitiating theColumbian Exchange,42the excha nge of plants, animals, foods, human race populations (includingslaves),communicable diseases, and culture between theEasternand Hesperianhemispheres.New cropsthat had come from the Americas via the European seafarers in the 16th century significantly contributed to world population growth. 43The Puritans migration to New England, starting in 1630 under John Winthrop with the professed mission of converting both the natives of North America to Puritan Christianity and raising up a City Upon a Hill that would influence the Western European world, is used as an example of globalization. 44