Interesting little B&W documentary illustrates with animation the need for two way trade among nations as the only way to achieve peace and prosperity. Otherwise, countries suffer from joblessness when goods are no longer flowing to and fro and workers go on strike.
Beginning with the dawn of civilization, it tells how the struggle for survival changed gradually under the Egyptians when one man's food depended on mass production by another man, just as trade between countries depends on each willing to sell their surplus goods. Soon the principles of trade existed among Greeks, Phonecians, Romans, Spanish, Portugese, French and British.
The world became inter-dependent on free trade with Britain as the leader giving the New World prosperity.
Things changed drastically under the Kaiser in Germany, 1914, leading to first World War. With the European empire in ruins, America had to become the new leader helping Europe to rebuild.
Whenever trade was blocked, it led to joblessness and strikes and eventually another World War II had the USA's B-29 dropping the first Atomnic bomb that killed over 100,000 people. Once again, it was up to the U.S. with its Marshall Plan to help rescue Europe's leveled cities from extinction and trade barriers had to be dropped.
The short tale ends with talk of the Marshall Plan and how important it was to trade "stuff for stuff".
Summing up: Abstract animation is only partially successful in putting over the ideas expressed.