HIS242H1 Chapter 1: HIS242_Paxton Summary Chapter 1
Document Summary
Europe since 1914 90 years of calamity. European consciousness of their place in the world. Up to 1914: europe"s role is important and disproportionate with its size in the world. Dense population 25% of the world"s population on 7% of the earth"s surface. Civility the rest of the world is influenced by european civility. Europe and the world: european dynamism dominates the world in 1914, 19th century: europeans are the first people to alter physical environment beyond natural recognition, european. Living in the world"s first industrial complex. First in rank: european traders, travelers, and investors, europe is the hub of an increasingly single world economy, international gold standard. Standard at which governments exchange currencies for gold at fixed rate. Makes commercial/currency transferability a viable reality: london becomes the capital of a stable, unified world-trading system. Most experienced, largest, cheapest shipping agents/insurance brokers/clearinghouses: freer international trade is the capstone of classical-liberal system.
