Timothy Brook discusses in his book aspects of global trade in the 17th century and how, through the process of globalization, regions became as interconnected as we know them today. Most people tend to have this conceptualized idea of ​​what globalization is as well as its process. Throughout my educational journey, globalization has always been described as large companies working together to provide different goods and services around the world. In other words, globalization simply involves large Fortune 500 companies and does not 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 insight into each of them. This supports his belief that globalization dates back to the events of the 17th century and benefited from the contributions of several individuals. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, globalization can be defined as the development of an increasingly integrated world economy, marked in particular by free trade. , the free movement 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 an apparent couple engaged in conversation. Brook, however, focuses on the grandiose hat worn by Vermeer in the painting. Since the hat was made of felt, it serves as a focal point for the type of globalization that was taking place at this time: the transcontinental fur trade. At that time in France, fur was in high demand but the availability of fur-bearing animals...... middle of paper ......g. The connection between each small element and events in world history symbolizes how the overall theme of globalization involves many different aspects. Samuel Champlain's excursion, which might have been considered a coincidence, actually helped establish a very profitable fur trade between North America. Chinese porcelain and its high demand introduced the world to the wonders of China as well as the rest of the world to China. Tobacco became a popular commercial product and was exported around the world. Along with the discoveries of roads, goods, beliefs and more, the movement of people was and still is the most vital element of globalization. Without it, the story would not be the same. revue-vermeers-hat.html