Changes

Our journey through world history reaches the present in this final lecture.

Our journey through world history reaches the present in this final lecture.

The Christian population has steady increased from 0% in 6 B.C. to 33% today.  Although Christians have always been a minority in the world, this minority has led the world in accomplishments and achievements.  Ask yourself as you complete this course:  What is the future for Christianity?

The Christian population has steadily increased from 0% in 6 B.C. to 33% today.  Although Christians have always been a minority in the world, this minority has led the world in accomplishments and achievements.  Ask yourself as you complete this course:  What is the future for Christianity?

==World Trade==

==World Trade==

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 20 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of six or so billion people like never before.

One word sums up most historians’ view of the world today:  “globalism”.  That was not even a word 25 years ago.  “Globalism” means treating the world as one political unit, as one massive village.  Distances appear to be shortening between people, cultures and nations.  Travel is more affordable for more people.  Mobility is greater.  Trade among nations is larger.  Television and the internet link the world’s population of six or so billion people like never before.

One [[invention]] in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the [[transistor]] at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey (exit 44 on I-78, near Berkeley Heights).  This tiny invention brought about a massive revolution in [[computer]]s and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, as in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information, as in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

One [[invention]] in late 1947 made most of this possible.  Three scientists invented the [[transistor]] at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey (exit 44 on I-78, near Berkeley Heights).  This tiny invention brought about a technological revolution in [[computer]]s and communications.  With improvements, the transistor permitted microelectronic control and amplification of signals.  This greatly advanced communication, in radio, television, telephone and later the internet.  This also permitted the storage of massive amounts of information in computers.  Bell Labs, then part of AT&T, made this invention available to the entire world.  Soon transistors replaced vacuum tubes in radios and televisions, enabling them to work better.  The Japanese flooded the market with improved products.   

[[Apple Computer]] sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, [[IBM]] introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and the world ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

[[Apple Computer]] sold a personal computer for home use in the late 1970s and, in 1981, [[IBM]] introduced its own personal computer.  Time magazine declared the personal (or home) computer to be “Man of the Year” for 1982.  Fifteen years later the internet became popular for connecting computers.  In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore attempted to take credit for helping create the internet, and many people ridiculed him.  No politician, and certainly not Al Gore, can take credit for all this.

Other inventions also helped improve the world.  The invention of plastics enabled the mass production of inexpensive goods, everything from drinking cups to watches to car and airplane furnishings.  Robotics lowered the cost of manufacturing for everything.  In the [[United States of America|United States]] unions resisted some of these changes.  The Japanese companies, benefiting from cheaper labor and lack of unions, surpassed American companies in many industries.  Economic problems later caught up with [[Japan]] in the early 1990s, but even today its car industry (especially Toyota) does better than Detroit car manufacturers.  Voluntary import quotas have kept Japanese car imports lower than they would be without any trade barriers, and the Japanese began expensive selling luxury cars (such as the Lexus) as a way of making more money with fewer products.

Other inventions have also helped improve the world.  The invention of plastics enabled the mass production of inexpensive goods, everything from drinking cups to watches to car and airplane furnishings.  Robotics lowered the cost of manufacturing for everything.  In the [[United States of America|United States]] unions resisted some of these changes.  The Japanese companies, benefiting from cheaper labor and lack of unions, surpassed American companies in many industries.  Economic problems later caught up with [[Japan]] in the early 1990s, but even today its car industry (especially Toyota) does better than Detroit car manufacturers.  Voluntary import quotas have kept Japanese car imports from increasing in quantity more than they would be without any trade barriers, and the Japanese began selling expensive luxury cars (such as the Lexus) as a way of making more money with fewer products.

   

   

In addition to Japan, other [[Asia]]n nations also thrived after World War II.  The “Four Tigers” are the prosperous Pacific Rim nations of [[South Korea]], [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]].  (Hong Kong is now part of communist China but is allowed to remain free until at least the middle of the 21st century.)  Even communist China has grown stronger economically by trading with the United States.  Malaysia and other Asian nations have prospered too.   

In addition to Japan, other [[Asia]]n nations also thrived after World War II.  The “Four Tigers” are the prosperous Pacific Rim nations of [[South Korea]], [[Taiwan]], [[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]].  (Hong Kong is now part of communist China but is allowed to remain free until at least the middle of the 21st century.)  Even communist China has grown stronger economically by trading with the United States.  Malaysia and other Asian nations have prospered too.   

The world today has numerous “multinational” companies having offices in many different countries.  Many American companies now have offices or factories even in communist China now.  These multinational companies are attracted by the low wages and inexpensive raw materials, and by the opportunity to sell their products there.  Increased regulation and taxes in America also encourage companies to transfer to their jobs to foreign countries, where there is less regulation and fewer lawsuits.

There are numerous “multinational” companies having offices in many different countries.  Many American companies now have offices or factories even in communist China.  These multinational companies are attracted by the low wages and inexpensive raw materials, and by the opportunity to sell their products there.  Increased regulation and taxes in America also encourage companies to transfer their jobs to foreign countries, where there is less regulation and fewer lawsuits.

===Trade===

===Trade===

Beginning soon after the end of World War II, the western nations discussed agreements to reduce tariffs for trade among themselves.  In 1947, they entered into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in order to decrease tariffs that interfered with trade.  This marked a significant change from how nations had used tariffs in the past to protect their domestic industries and raise revenue.  Under GATT, western countries first froze the tariffs (preventing them from increasing) and later began reducing the tariffs.  In 1995, this approach was taken one step further with the World Trade Organization (WTO), which included non-western countries and also established international courts for deciding trade disputes among nations.  There are 150 members of the WTO today, and Vietnam (which the communists won by war in the 1970s) joined the WTO in 2007.

Beginning soon after the end of World War II, the western nations discussed agreements to reduce tariffs for trade among themselves.  In 1947, they entered into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in order to decrease tariffs that interfered with trade.  This marked a significant change from how nations had used tariffs in the past to protect their domestic industries and raise revenue.  Under GATT, western countries first froze the tariffs (preventing them from increasing) and later began reducing the tariffs.  In 1995, this approach was taken one step further with the World Trade Organization (WTO), which included non-western countries and also established international courts for deciding trade disputes among nations.  There are 150 members of the WTO today, and Vietnam (which the communists won by war in the 1970s) joined the WTO in 2007.

[[File:European Union.jpg|right]]

[[File:European Union.jpg|right]]

Western European nations also joined the European Common Market after World War II, and then in 1958 joined the European Economic Community (EEC) to reduce tariffs among themselves.  The EEC later became the European Union (EU), which includes all Western European countries except Switzerland, which has never joined anything and fiercely defends its independence, Iceland, and Norway.  In 2002, all of EU began using a common currency known as the “euro”, except for Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which still use their own currencies.  In 2004, many Eastern European nations also joined the EU.  A map of the EU is to the right.

Western European nations also joined the European Common Market after World War II, and then in 1958 joined the European Economic Community (EEC) to reduce tariffs among themselves.  The EEC later became the European Union (EU), which includes all Western European countries except Switzerland, which has never joined anything and fiercely defends its independence, and also Iceland and Norway.  In 2002, many EU countries began using a common currency known as the “euro”, but these EU countries use their own currency instead of the euro: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  Notice from that list that many Eastern European countries belong to the EU now, but do not use its currency; many of them joined the EU in 2004.  A map of the EU is to the right.

The large Muslim nation of Turkey has requested to join the EU.  One opponent is the new Pope Benedict XVI of the Catholic Church, who succeeded Pope John Paul II in 2005 upon his death.  Pope Benedict has emphasized the need to keep Europe Christian, and he sparked Muslim riots in late 2006 when he repeated a provocative quote about Islam.  One of President Barack Obama’s most significant statements after his election was to call for the inclusion of Turkey in the EU.

The large Muslim nation of Turkey requested to join the EU in 1987, but the EU has never allowed it to join.  In 2005, the new Pope Benedict XVI of the Catholic Church emphasized the need to keep Europe Christian, and Muslim riots occurred in late 2006 when he repeated a controversial quote about Islam.  One of President Barack Obama’s most significant statements after his election was to call for the inclusion of Turkey in the EU.  But now, in 2014, Turkey itself does want to join the EU, and announced that it would not pay a fine imposed against it by the European Court of Human Rights based on an invasion in 1974 by Turkey of Cyprus.  The EU is not as popular as it was a decade ago.

North America has also created a free trade zone (free from tariffs) with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was never ratified by the Senate as a treaty but which Congress passed into law anyway.  NAFTA establishes international courts that have already been used to force the United States to open its borders to Mexican trucks, which are less safe than American ones.  The importation of drugs into the United States from Mexico has increased since NAFTA went into effect.

North America has also created a free trade zone (free from tariffs) with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was never ratified by the Senate as a treaty but which Congress passed into law anyway.  NAFTA establishes international courts that have already been used to force the United States to open its borders to Mexican trucks, which are less safe than American ones.  The importation of drugs into the United States from Mexico has increased since NAFTA went into effect.