Globalization, often seen as a new emerging force in global culture, politics, and economics today, is not an entirely new phenomenon. In fact, globalization can be traced back to the ancient empires of Greece and Rome in Europe and the Middle East and to the opening of the Great Silk Road through Asia in the third century A.D.
"The Silk Road played the role of a connecting bridge between countries and civilizations. It served as a channel for trade, which became the catalyst for the development of crafts. Travelers and explorers studied the countries and peoples of the lands along the entire length of the Road, thus making an enormous contribution to the development of knowledge. The world became acquainted with the ideas and work of the greatest philosophers, scholars and statesmen. Intensive mutual enrichment of cultures took place, and there was an active exchange of knowledge and of spiritual and philosophical concepts and views.”1
Some examples of what was transported over the centuries along the Silk Road include Buddhism, technology, and art. Although it reached its height of utilization during the Tang Dynasty in the seventh to ninth centuries A.D., and its importance began to severely diminish beginning in the fourteenth century, the basic principles of the Silk Road are being revived with the opening of the Eurasian Continental Bridge in recent years.
The Silk Road trade route connected the eastern and western ends of the Asian continent, with China on one side and Persia and Syria on the other. Trade between the latter two was already starting to influence the cultures of these regions.
The Western End - Europe and the Middle East
This region was taken over by Alexander the Great of Macedon, in the third century B.C., bringing with him Greek culture. Although the Greek empire only ruled the area for five short years, the effects of the occupation were significant. Greek language was introduce...
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