Globalization is an historical process that began with the first movement of people out of Africa into other parts of the world. Traveling short, then longer distances, migrants, merchants, and others have always taken their ideas, customs, and products into new lands. The melding, borrowing, and adaptation of outside influences can be found in many areas of human life.
One could say that globalization has been going on since the Middle Ages, when merchants traveled the Silk Road from Europe to China to buy and sell fabrics, perfumes, spices, jewels, glassware, and slaves. With every technological breakthrough bringing faster communication or more efficient transport of goods, the countries of the world have become more closely connected.