Our most provident and glorious Creator so furnished countries with several commodities that amongst all there might be sociable conversation; and, one standing in need of the other, all might be combined in a common league, and exhibit mutual succors. This abundance of all countries in everything, and defect of every country in most things, maintaineth in all regions and every province a most strict combination. So that, as in the body of the little world, the head cannot say to the foot, nor the foot to the head, 'I stand in no need of thee:' so, in the body of the great world, Europe cannot say to Asia, nor Asia to Africa, 'I want not your commodities, nor am defective in that of which thou boastest of abundance.'

Microcosmos: a Little Description of the Great World (1621)