The course gives an introduction to the phenomenon of globalization from an archaeological and historical perspective. The following themes will be covered: conditions and driving forces for the globalizing processes, the exchange patterns of the “pre-European” world, the European expansion from the 15th century, cultural encounters and hybridity, merchant capitalism and the East India trade, slavery and plantations and the life of the non-articulate groups of humanity. Special emphasis is given to ecological globalization and to the threat to the global heritage caused by climate change.