ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Proto-globalization

Proto-globalization refers to a time in history when people from different parts of the world began to interact with each other more frequently. This happened a long time ago, around 500 years ago.

Before this time, people mostly stayed in their own areas and only traded with nearby communities. But as some societies became more advanced, they started exploring the world and trading with far-off places. For example, the Chinese began building ships that could travel long distances, like the famous treasure ships of the Ming Dynasty.

Trade was a major part of proto-globalization. People began to exchange goods and ideas with each other, which led to a lot of cultural exchange as well. As people from different parts of the world met and learned from each other, new technologies and ways of doing things began to evolve.

One of the most famous examples of proto-globalization was the Silk Road. This was a network of trade routes that connected China with the Mediterranean world. Traders traveled across vast stretches of land to bring silk, spices, and other goods to Europe, while European products like glassware and wool were shipped back to China.

Proto-globalization helped to lay the foundations for the global economy we have today. It allowed people to learn from each other and develop new technologies that improved people's lives. Although it began many centuries ago, the legacy of proto-globalization can still be felt today, as people and goods continue to move freely across the world.