Timothy Brook discusses in his book aspects of world trade during the 17th century and how, through the process of globalization, regions became as interconnected as we know today. Most people tend to have this conceptualized idea of ​​what globalization is and its process. Throughout my educational career, globalization has always been described as one big business working together providing different goods and services around the world. In other words, globalization simply involves large 500-type companies and doesn't involve anyone else. In the text, however, Brook gives a different interpretation and does so by examining six different paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Instead of focusing primarily on the obvious aspects of each painting, Brook draws readers' attention to a variety of intricate details and provides insights into all of them. This helps support his belief that globalization can be traced back to events in the 17th century and had contributions from several individuals. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, globalization can be defined as the development of an increasingly integrated global economy, characterized above all by free trade. , the free flow of capital and the exploitation of cheaper foreign labor markets. In Vermeer's painting, Officer and Laughing Girl (1658), the untrained eye would simply see a couple seemingly engaged in conversation. Brook, however, focuses on the grandiose hat worn by Vermeer in the painting. Being made of felt, the hat serves as a focal point for the type of globalization that was occurring during this time: the transcontinental fur trade. During this period in France, fur was in high demand but the availability of fur-bearing animals...... middle of paper......g. The connection of each small element to events in world history symbolizes how the general theme of globalization involves many different aspects. Samuel Champlain's excursion, which could have been seen as a complete accident, actually helped establish a very profitable fur trade between North Americans. Chinese porcelain and its high demand have introduced the world to the wonders of China and the rest of the world to know about China. Tobacco became a popular trading commodity and was exported throughout the world. Along with the discovery of routes, goods, beliefs and other things, the movement of people has been, and still is, the most vital part of globalization. Without it, the story wouldn't be the same. Works Cited http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/journal_of_world_history/summary/v021/21.4.sachsenmaier.html http://jonathanarriola.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-revision-vermeers-hat.html