Lesson 2.3

Section Summary and Glossary

Section 1 Summary

Your understandings of historical globalization are the basis of understanding that the cultural contact between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples had many historical reasons, motives, and perspectives. Many of the present-day economic, political, social, and cultural legacies are rooted in historical globalization. In Module 3 you will continue your exploration of these legacies by looking at their consequences.

Section 1 Glossary

Age of Discovery: a time period between the fifteenth to seventeenth century in which Europe undertook voyages to explore territories previously unknown to them; also referred to as the Age of Exploration

Americas: refers to the land of the Western Hemisphere (North America, Central America, and South America); also referred to as the New World in fifteenth-century European perspective

Capitalism:

• Capitalism is generally understood as an economic system based on these characteristics:
  
  
  • People have the right to private property.
  • The necessities of production, distribution, and ownership are in the hands of individuals and companies.
  • Individuals engage in economic activity primarily for profit.
  • Individuals compete to reach their economic goals.
  • Money is necessary for manufacturing and trade.
  • The acquisition of money means that profit was accumulated.

Conquest of the Americas: refers to the Spanish claim of most of the territories of the Western Hemisphere beginning in the fifteenth century

cultural contact: the meeting and possible exchange of knowledge, values, beliefs, and language between two distinct cultural groups

environment: the climate, soil, living things, and the social and cultural conditions

Eurocentrism: the world view that Europeans are superior to other cultures and groups; especially in comparison to the Indigenous peoples of the territories they conquered

First Contact: the initial meeting between two cultures; usually refers to the first meeting between Aboriginal peoples and Europeans in the Americas

historical globalization: refers to the time period of the first expansion of contact, connections, and trade between communities and individuals around the world

The Age of Discovery is often considered the historical global event that shaped historical globalization.

imperialism: the imposition of control over another group by military, social, cultural, and political force and the exploitation of peoples, land, and resources

Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples:

• Americas Indigenous peoples – refers to the original peoples of a region
• Non-Indigenous peoples – inhabitants who arrived and settled in the land of the original peoples
• Aboriginal peoples – defined by the Constitution Act (1982) to refer to Indian, Inuit, and Métis peoples of Canada
• First Nations – in 1980, all the chiefs in Canada adopted an Assembly of First Nations declaration to call their member nations “First Nations”
• Western Europeans – generally refers to members from countries such as England, France, Spain, Portugal
• Europeans – generally refers to members from the continent of Europe

industrialization: the transition from an agricultural-based economy to a manufacturing base; also refers to the transition from hand-made products to machine-made products

This is often an indicator of a highly developed country.

legacy: something passed on from the past

mercantilism: a policy of building the gold and silver wealth of a country through the sale of exports, strict trade regulations, and the sponsorship of colonial possessions

mutual benefit: an advantage for both sides

protocol: the set of rules that dictate behaviour

trade: to buy, sell, or exchange goods or services

tribute: a payment, tax, or tariff to another out of honour or obligation