GGRA02H3 Lecture 2: Lecture 2 notes
Document Summary
The ability to leave home and discover new lands. Visiting new lands led to new ideas and trading of technology and resources. Wars started to gain new land and resources. Roman empire grown to acquire more food (grains). Problem with mapping was that some thought the world was flat and some thought it was round. Ptolemy knew the earth was round and attempted to map the world. Expanding into new areas led to new relationship between man and the environment. Cities were used as cultural and trading centers. Early global economy based on trade across asia, africa and much of europe. Expansion of islam based on trade and spread of religion. Caused problems between western christian world and islam. Free market: less government interference, less tariffs and taxes. Private ownership of production: the whole discussion of capitalism over socialism is based on this idea. Surplus value of land and labour: companies exploit land and labour to make profits.