The Middle period focuses on the rise of the two great global civilizations: Islam and the West. It also treats the major regional civilizations China and East Asia, Greater India, and Byzantium and Eastern Europe as well as the isolated areas of the world. Islam anticipated and influenced the expansion of Western Europe. In spreading to Spain in the west to India and Southeast Asia in the east, Islam unified much of Eurasia and Africa and took over, if not created, the first global system. Through Islamic hands the technological achievements of China and India were diffused throughout North Africa and Western Europe. In turn Western Europe in the High Middle Ages began to surge economically, culturally and technically and eventually became the second global civilization.
Western Europe for the first time integrated the whole planet into a single world system. It also created the modern world, a unique period in world history. Technology plays an ever-intensifying role in this period, particularly in the Industrial Revolution and its changes in the modes of production which ultimately had immense social and demographic consequences. The shift to fossil fuel burning engines is critical in this process, as is the discovery and harnessing of electricity. Technical revolutions affecting every area of life ensued, especially communications and transportation. A new era, qualitatively and quantitatively superior to earlier times, arose.
The words electricity and magnetism are Greek words since the Greeks were among the first who observed electromagnetic effects. Amber was used in antiquity for decoration, often with alloys of gold and silver, and was called electron. William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elizabeth I, used the word electron to produce the word "electricity".
Magnetic iron ore was found near Magnesia in Asia Minor. According to Lucretius (98-55 BC), the term magnet is derived from Magnesia.......
