We all share the basic human needs of food, shelter, companionship among other things. What is fascinating to me is how obviously true it is the the foundations of civilization begin with the quest to secure these basic needs. Once met, however, the rules and resources of each civilization begin to diverge. Civilizations do not all share the amount of resources they have, or the environment they live in. Thus, each civilization must begin to develop its own independent life, develop its own unique culture. Each unique culture carries with it its own conception of what is good and what is valuable; and no two cultures are the same.
Globalization, the unique event that began around 500 years ago, is now the most pressing question for World Historians, politicians and political philosophers. Globalization has thrown every culture into the same world and it now demands that every question about power, authority, law, etc., etc., be looked at with everybody in mind. Yet we do not all agree.
Today's class highlighted the growth of civilization and our common human needs. It explored how civilizations grow differently and build unique cultures. Finally, it examined the real world issues that are the consequence of globalization, such as the threat of world war, extreme poverty, and our participation in making the world a worse or better place.
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