ABSTRACT
Globalization is said to be the most ubiquitous term found today in both popular and academic publications worldwide. We have been disappointed, however, to discover that few authors offer operational definitions of the term ‘globalization’, and fewer still attempt to place the origins of globalization in the context of world history. The purpose of this essay is twofold: first, to discuss the birth of globalization in world history terms and, second, to do so with the aid of an explicit definition that permits identification of a precise year of globalization’s birth. Our central argument—that globalization was born in the specific year 1571—comprises the body of this essay. The general outlines of our contention are summarized later in this introductory section.
