The use of oil throughout history has helped shape the world and the way people live. Country economies, world politics, and the global environment have all been changed by oil. Given the scale of the oil market, the global economy has been significantly affected by trade and prices. In politics, there has been both progress and conflict due to the world's dependence on oil. Oil has also had different effects on the global environment. Overall, dependence on oil has had a huge impact on the way the world functions. Without oil, the world would not be in the state it is today. The global use of oil has had a major impact on political development. One of the major results was the creation of OPEC. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was created at the Baghdad Conference which took place from September 10 to 14, 1960. This committee was founded by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Over the next decades, other countries began to join OPEC. OPEC's goal is to monitor oil trade and work on policies with member countries. They ensure that prices charged by producers are fair and that consumers receive their fair share of the oil. OPEC is a result of the world's heavy dependence on oil and conflicts arise because of this commodity. One of the major conflicts was the oil embargo imposed on the United States by OPEC in 1973. This was in retaliation for the United States' choice to aid Israel during the Arab-Israeli War. Other countries affected were the Netherlands, Portugal and South Africa due to their support for Israel. Since the United States was heavily dependent on foreign oil, the economy was negatively affected, which plunged the United States into a crisis for the following year. These major policies...... middle of paper ......2013).Lockard, Gene. "TIPRO: Oil and gas jobs provide spark to hiring data in first half of 2013." RIGZONE-. http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/129689/TIPRO_Oil_Gas_Jobs_Provide_Spark_to_Hiring_Data_in_1H_2013 (accessed November 17, 2013). OPEC. “Brief History”. OPEC. http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/24.htm (accessed November 14, 2013). Discusses the history of OPEC, its mission, and how it has impacted the oil community. Repanich, Jeremy. "The Deepwater Horizon Spill by the Numbers." Popular mechanics. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/coal-oil-gas/bp-oil-spill-statistics (accessed November 13, 2013). Tuttle, Robert. The global economy is a “major concern” for OPEC oil producers, Badri says. » Bloomberg.com. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-21/world-economy-a-major-worry-for-opec-oil-producers-badri-says.html (accessed November 13, 2013).