The Origins of Globalization

Origins of Globalization draws widely on ancient sources and modern economic theory to detail the concept of “known world” globalization, arguing that a mixed economy--similar in many respects to our own--existed in a variety of forms throughout the ancient world. By analyzing the business practices of the ancient world--phenomena such as resource and market seeking behavior, international trade from China, India and Rome, to Africa and even northern and western parts of Europe, Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) operating internationally and outsourcing production, multicultural workforces, tariff reduced zones, interregional tax issues, and the management of currency risks--the authors provide readers with a unique historical interpretation of the contemporary globalizing economy and a durable theoretical framework for future historical economic analyses.

Karl Moore is Associate Professor of Management at McGill University, Canada.
David C. Lewis teaches world history at California State University, USA.

Introduction 1. Modern International Business Theory and the Ancient World 2. From Temple to Palace: Trade and Enterprise in the Early Bronze Age, 3500-2000BCE 3. The Golden Age of The Temple Economy: Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley: From Early Bronze IV: 2250- 2000BCE 4. The Assyrians and Babylonians Preview the Multinational: The Middle Bronze Age: 2000-1500BCE 5. Maritime Capitalism: Intercontinental Trade and Investment under the Phoenicians: 1500-500BCE 6. Greece: Free-Market Revolution in the Aegean: 825-480BCE 7. Publicans and Patriarchs: The Rise of Roman Family Enterprise: 146BCE-AD14 8. Conclusion