Technology & Disease
What is the late 20th-century trend in which declining costs of transportation and communication technologies accelerated global economic integration and cultural exchange?
Increasing affordability of transportation and communication technologies contributing to globalization
What is Economic Liberalism? Give an example
Economic liberalization: opening up of economies (nod to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and free markets); Led some corporations to move where wages, taxes, and regulations were cheaper or fewer; rise in labor exploitation and damage to environment
Ex. Chile (August Pinochet 1974-1990; violent tactics yet opened up free-market)
Ex. China (Deng Xiaoping 1981 opened up China to more economic reforms for more private businesses. 14 major cities opened to foreign investment and trade.
What is one example of resistance to globalization / the anti-globalization movement?
1. 1999 Seattle WTO Protests: Protests against the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. Activists argued global trade policies hurt workers, the environment, and developing countries.
2. Zapatista Movement (Mexico) The Zapatista Army of National Liberation opposed NAFTA and globalization. Argued it harmed indigenous communities and local farmers.
3. Environmental Activism: Groups like Greenpeace protested globalization’s environmental impact. Focused on deforestation, climate change, and pollution from global industries.
4. Labor Protests & Unions: Workers protested outsourcing and poor labor conditions in global supply chains. Opposed multinational corporations moving jobs to lower-wage countries.
5. Anti-IMF/World Bank Protests: Demonstrations against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Critics argued their policies (like austerity) hurt developing nations.
What mammal sleeps more than any other mammal on earth?
Bats!
When observed in captivity, little brown bats have reportedly slept for 19.9 hours straight—that's more than 80 percent of the day snoozing.
While the Black Death spread along the Silk Roads, What was the late 20th-century factor that allowed diseases like HIV/AIDS to reach multiple continents within a much shorter time frame?
The rise of rapid global transportation (especially air travel)
During the 20th century, due to globalization, what happened economically between the rich and poor?
Increased economic inequality between the rich and poor.
Employment levels and personable income generally increased in developing countries. BUT Poor labor conditions, and harsh environmental damage in developing countries.
What are the differences in the major causes of death experienced by high-income countries versus low-income countries during the early twenty-first century?
Why are there these differences?
Low income countries (lower life expectancy) are dying from Malaria, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, Respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. (diseases associated with poverty)
High income countries (higher life expectancy)- Heart disease, strokes, cancers, dementia, Alzheimers.
Low income countries do not have the same access to same modern medicine and high income countries are changing lifestyle habits.
What is one similarity between the League of Nations and the United Nations, specifically in terms of their purpose?
What is one key difference between the two organizations, focusing on effectiveness?
a) One similarity between the League of Nations and the United Nations is that both international organizations that were created to maintain world peace and prevent future wars by encouraging cooperation between nations.
b) One key difference is that the League of Nations lacked effective enforcement power, as it could not force countries to follow its decisions. The United Nations, however, has stronger enforcement through the Security Council, which can impose sanctions and authorize military intervention, making it more capable of maintaining peace.
What 3 innovations/revolutions caused a monumental increase in global population in the 20th century?
Medical innovations: antibiotics, vaccines (polio/measles/smallpox) emphasis on public health.
Green Revolution- used new methods of crossbreeding as well as new fertilizers and irrigation techniques to produce more resistant varieties of grains (that would yield more produce)
Improvements in Public Health & Sanitation- Governments invested in clean water systems, sewage treatment, and disease prevention programs. Impact: Prevented the spread of infectious diseases, allowing populations to grow more rapidly.
During the last few decades, how did globalization of the world's economy effect the environment?
Water & Air quality generally improved in developed countries.
Increased environmental awareness
Deterioration/deforestation/desertification in the developing world
What are 3 major causes for these modern changes?
Deforestation: loss of trees due to cutting down land for agriculture. Desertification: overuse of agriculture and removal of natural vegetation in arid lands.
Air and water pollution: decline in quality of air due to fossil fuel pollution.
Increased consumption: of water and resources
Population Growth- Agriculture: more people means more demand for food, which means more crops. This means more deforestation, soil erosion, and decline of habitats for animals and people.
Urbanization: caused by population growth. more cities and larger cities have led to more waste and pollution.
Globalization and Industrialization: as more energy is needed to produce goods, more resources are depleted and pollution is increased.
What popular baseball game snack can be used to make dynamite?
Peanuts!
When extracted, peanut oil can be turned into glycerol, which can then make nitroglycerine, an unstable explosive substance used in dynamite.
What was the trend of the nuclear stockpile in both the US & the Soviet Union from the end of the 20th century on? Why was this a trend?
What are two major positives out of the technology of nuclear energy/power?
Global nuclear stockpiles peaked around 1986 at over 60,000+ warheads, declining significantly since due to the outcome of late Cold War diplomacy that reflects easing tensions between rival superpowers.
Zero-Emission Clean Energy: Nuclear power plants emit no greenhouse gases or harmful pollutants during operation
Reduced Dependence on Fossil Fuels
M.A.D. no WW3 (yet....)
Name 4 major economic trends in the late twentieth century.
Rise of Economic Liberalism: The governments of many developed Western countries adopted policies of economic liberalization and deregulation.
Globalization & Economic Integration: Expansion of global trade networks and interdependence between countries. Growth of multinational corporations and global supply chains. Organizations like the WTO.
Rise of Multinational Corporations: Companies began operating across multiple countries. Production moved to regions with cheaper labor
Economic Growth in East Asia: Rapid industrialization in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, and China
Increased Role of International Financial Institutions: Organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank influenced economic policies
Growing Economic Inequality: Wealth gaps increased both within and between countries. Benefits of globalization were unevenly distributed
List and explain three ways that economic growth and technological advancements contributed to the rise of consumer culture in the second half of the 20th century?
1. Economic growth increased incomes and expanded the middle class, giving more people the ability to purchase consumer goods.
2. Technological advancements in production and transportation made goods cheaper, faster to produce, and widely available.
3. Communication technologies like television and advertising influenced consumer behavior and promoted a culture centered on buying goods.
Name two examples that show the tendency of how governments took a strong role in guiding their countries’ economic and social development in the second half of the 1900's?
1. China – The One-Child Policy (1979) limited most families to one child. Purpose: Control population growth to improve economic development and resource distribution.
2. China – Economic Reforms under Deng Xiaoping. Led by Deng Xiaoping, China introduced market-oriented reforms in the late 1970s–1980s. Purpose: Increase productivity and modernize the economy. Big Idea: Government-guided shift toward capitalism while maintaining political control.
3. Soviet Union – Central Economic Planning: The Command Economy directed production through government plans (continued through the late 20th century).
4. India – Green Revolution: The Green Revolution involved government promotion of high-yield crops, fertilizers, and irrigation. Purpose: Increase food production and reduce famine.
Name and describe major technological advancements in each of the following categories/themes:
Communication, transportation, agriculture, energy, & medicine
COMMUNICATION: TV and Radio, Cell phones, Social media.
TRANSPORTATION: Airplane, Cargo planes, Tankers
AGRICULTURE- Green Revolution: used new methods of crossbreeding as well as new fertilizers and irrigation techniques.
ENERGY- Fossil fuels like petroleum and natural gas, Nuclear energy, Renewable resources like wind and solar power
MEDICINE- Antibiotics (ex. Penicillin by Alexander Fleming), Birth control, Vaccines
Give a specific example of Globalization in each of the Various Realms:
Political, Social, Economic, & Cultural
Political Changes. Moving away from competition via imperialism or Cold War, there is now more cooperation through regional organizations (ex. United Nations).-Non governmental organizations as well- World Bank fighting poverty by giving loans to countries, International Monetary Fund (exchange rates), International Peace Bureau (nuclear disarmament).
Social Changes- People are now more connected - even if virtually so (social media), leading to more conversation and more voices within the discussion on everything from rights, to the environment, to which are the best cat memes.
Economic Changes- Global Brands: some companies become multinational (ex. Apple, Nike, Rolex, Toyota, Amazon, Coca Cola). Online Commerce: trade is easier than ever, where you can buy goods from other countries easily. (Amazon)
Cultural Changes- Popular Culture (1920s), ART/COMMUNICATION (anime, social media, music), Sports (Olympics, World Cup), Religion (new forms and non believers).
What are 4 effects of the following changes?
Deforestation: loss of trees due to cutting down land for agriculture
Desertification: overuse of agriculture and removal of natural vegetation in arid lands
Air and water pollution: decline in quality of air due to fossil fuel pollution
Increased consumption: of water and resources
Inequality/Scarcity of Resources: pollution of and increased consumption of water leads to shortages, especially in lower income regions
Changes to Atmosphere: increase in greenhouse gases from factories, cars, airplanes, and industrialization
New Energy Sources: new renewable energy like wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal power have become more popular. By 2050 1/2 the worlds power will be from wind and solar.
New Awareness: new “Environmental Cool Club Kids” have emerged! Green Party & Green Belt Movement. Protecting the environment.
How long would it take to fall to the center of the Earth? (in minutes)
19 Minutes!
It would take 19 minutes to fall to the center of the Earth.