Throughout the twenty-first century, there are often misconceptions regarding the origins of the globalized world. Within the globalized society, humans accredit the state of the world to the various technological advancements, innovations, and enhancements of communication systems of recent decades, which we often take for granted. However, through Vermeer’s Hat, Timothy Brook proclaims that it is improvisation of the seventeenth century that led to the state of globalization which humans experience currently. Brook illustrates this theme through the narratives of first encounters described in detail within the novel, by exemplifying the concept of transculturation, of items such as porcelain and tobacco, and ultimately by “opening doors”