CBSE Class 10 History – Chapter 3: The Making of a Global World

1. Chapter Overview – Understanding “The Making of a Global World”

The term globalisation today refers to the integration of countries through trade, investment, migration, technology and information flows. However, the idea of a “global world” is not entirely new. This chapter traces how global connections evolved from the pre-modern era to the present:

• The Pre-modern World: Early linkages through trade routes, movement of people and cultural exchanges.
• The Nineteenth Century: Rapid expansion of trade, industrialisation, colonisation and large-scale migration.
• The Interwar Economy: Impact of the First World War, post-war recovery and the Great Depression.
• Post-War Era: Rebuilding of the world economy, Bretton Woods institutions and the spread of globalisation in the second half of the twentieth century.

The chapter helps CBSE Class 10 students understand that globalisation is a historical process, shaped by social, economic and political forces over time and not merely a recent phenomenon.

2. The Pre-modern World – Early Forms of Globalisation

In the pre-modern world, long-distance trade connected regions, people and cultures. These early networks laid the foundation for the later global economy.

2.1 Silk Routes and Movement of Goods

The Silk Routes were ancient trade routes that linked Asia with Europe and North Africa. They are named after the famous Chinese silk that was one of the main items of trade.

• There were land routes as well as sea routes.
• Traders carried silk, spices, porcelain, textiles and precious metals.
• These routes connected China, India, Central Asia, the Middle East and European regions.

Along with goods, ideas, religions and technologies also travelled. This shows that globalisation has cultural as well as economic dimensions.

2.2 Food Travels and Cultural Exchange

Many food items that we think of as local actually came from other parts of the world through historical trade and conquest.

• Potato, maize, tomato, chillies and many other crops were introduced into Europe and Asia from the Americas.
• These new crops changed diet patterns, agriculture and even population growth.
• The spread of crops and livestock is an example of how biological exchanges shaped world history.

2.3 Conquests, Diseases and Demographic Changes

Globalisation also had negative effects. When conquerors and traders moved across continents, they carried diseases to which local populations had no immunity.

• In some regions, new diseases caused huge population decline.
• Conquests were often violent and led to the destruction of local societies and cultures.

Thus, the pre-modern world shows early patterns of global interconnection with both positive and negative consequences.

3. The Nineteenth Century (1815–1914) – Expansion of the World Economy

The nineteenth century was a period of dramatic change in the global economy. It is often studied through three main features:

• Increased trade in goods and capital
• Mass migration of people
• Expansion of European imperialism

3.1 World Trade and Industrialisation

With the spread of the Industrial Revolution, production in Europe increased many times. Industrial countries needed:

• Raw materials such as cotton, jute, minerals and agricultural products.
• New markets to sell their manufactured goods.

This led to the growth of world trade. Steamships, railways and the telegraph reduced transport and communication costs, making long-distance trade faster and cheaper.

3.2 Role of Colonies in the Global Economy

Colonies played a central role in the nineteenth century world economy.

• They supplied food grains, raw materials and labour to industrial countries.
• They served as markets for finished goods produced in Europe.
• Colonial governments shaped the economy of colonies to suit imperial interests, not local needs.

For example, in many colonies, farmers were encouraged or forced to grow cash crops like cotton, jute and indigo instead of food crops, making them dependent on global price fluctuations.

3.3 Migration and the Global Labour Market

The nineteenth century also saw large-scale migration of people across continents.

• Many poor peasants and workers from Europe and Asia moved to America, Africa and Australia in search of work and better lives.
• Some travelled freely, while others were sent as indentured labourers under long-term contracts.
• Indentured labourers often worked on plantations, mines and construction projects under harsh conditions.

Migration created a global labour market and linked the lives of people in distant regions.

3.4 “Latecomers” to Industrialisation

Not all countries industrialised at the same time. Some, like Britain, were early industrialisers. Others, such as certain European countries and Japan, became industrial powers later.

These “latecomers” tried to catch up by:

• Investing in industry and infrastructure.
• Adopting modern technologies.
• Protecting local industries through tariffs and state support.

4. The Interwar Economy – Between the Two World Wars

The period between the First World War and the Second World War is called the interwar period. It was marked by political instability and economic crises.

4.1 Impact of the First World War

The First World War had far-reaching economic consequences:

• European economies were badly damaged due to heavy war expenditure.
• Countries faced shortage of resources, inflation and high levels of public debt.
• The centre of economic power began to shift towards the United States.

Trade patterns changed and many countries tried to become self-sufficient to reduce dependence on imports.

4.2 Post-war Recovery and Instability

After the war, countries attempted to restore the old economic order. However, recovery was uneven and fragile.

• Many countries tried to go back to the Gold Standard (a system where currency value was linked to gold), but this created financial difficulties.
• There was unemployment and social unrest in several countries.

4.3 The Great Depression (1929 onwards)

The Great Depression was one of the most severe economic crises in modern history. It began around 1929 and affected many parts of the world.

Main causes:

• Overproduction of goods relative to demand, especially in agricultural and industrial sectors.
• Speculative boom and collapse in financial markets.
• Failure of banks and reduction in credit.

Consequences of the Great Depression:

• Sharp fall in production, prices and employment.
• Farmers suffered as agricultural prices collapsed.
• In colonies dependent on exports, peasants and workers faced extreme poverty and indebtedness.
• World trade shrank as countries raised tariffs to protect their own economies.

The Depression showed how the world economy had become interlinked – a crisis in one major economy could spread across the globe.

5. Rebuilding a World Economy – The Post-War Era

The end of the Second World War brought the challenge of rebuilding the shattered world economy. Leaders wanted to avoid the mistakes that had led to the Great Depression and war.

5.1 Bretton Woods Conference and New Institutions

In 1944, representatives of many countries met at Bretton Woods in the United States to plan a new international economic system.

Main objectives:

• Ensure economic stability and full employment.
• Prevent competitive devaluation of currencies.
• Promote orderly growth of world trade.

Two important institutions were created:

• International Monetary Fund (IMF): to maintain stability in the international monetary system and provide short-term financial assistance.
• World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development): to provide long-term loans for reconstruction and development.

5.2 Features of the Post-war International Economic System

The post-war order was based on fixed but adjustable exchange rates. The US dollar was linked to gold, and other currencies were linked to the dollar.

• This created a system of managed international currencies.
• World trade expanded as countries reduced trade barriers.
• Many countries experienced high economic growth in the 1950s and 1960s.

5.3 Decolonisation and New Nations

After the Second World War, many Asian and African countries gained independence from colonial rule.

• These new nations aimed at economic development and improving the living standards of their people.
• They adopted policies such as planning, industrialisation and agricultural reforms.
• Many tried to protect their economies by controlling imports and promoting domestic industries.

5.4 End of Bretton Woods and New Phase of Globalisation

Over time, the Bretton Woods system came under pressure and finally collapsed in the early 1970s. Currencies started to float freely rather than being pegged to the dollar or gold.

From the late twentieth century, a new phase of globalisation began, marked by:

• Free movement of capital across borders.
• Rise of multinational corporations.
• Rapid spread of technology and information.

While this created new opportunities, it also led to inequalities between and within countries.

6. Key Terms and Concepts for Quick Revision

• Globalisation: The process of integration of different countries through trade, investment, migration and technology.
• Silk Routes: Ancient trade routes connecting Asia with Europe and North Africa, used for trade in silk and other goods.
• Indentured Labour: A system where labourers work under a contract for a specific period, often under harsh conditions.
• Great Depression: Severe worldwide economic crisis starting around 1929, marked by fall in production, prices and employment.
• Bretton Woods System: Post-war international monetary system based on fixed exchange rates and the US dollar linked to gold.
• IMF and World Bank: International institutions set up after the Second World War to ensure monetary stability and support reconstruction and development.

7. Board Exam Oriented Summary

For CBSE Class 10 Board Examination, students should be able to:

• Explain how the pre-modern world was connected through trade, migration and cultural exchange.
• Describe the main features of the nineteenth century world economy, including industrialisation, colonialism and migration.
• Analyse the causes and consequences of the Great Depression.
• Outline the main features of the post-war international economic system, including the role of Bretton Woods institutions.
• Relate historical processes of globalisation to the present-day global world.

Revising these notes regularly, along with NCERT textbook questions and examples, will help students write clear, analytical answers and score well in the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Examination.