The use of oil throughout history has helped shape the world and the way people live. Countries' economies, world politics and the world's environment have all been changed by oil. Because there is such a large market for oil, the world economy has been greatly 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 varying effects on the world's environment. Overall, oil dependence has had a major impact on the way the world works. Without oil, the world would not be in the state it is in today. The use of oil around the world has had a significant impact on political development. A major achievement was the creation of OPEC. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries was created during the Baghdad conference which took place in 1960 from 10 to 14 September. This committee was founded by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. In the following decades, other countries began to join OPEC. OPEC's purpose is to monitor oil trade and work on policies with member countries. They ensure that the prices charged by producers are fair and that consumers receive their fair share of oil. OPEC is the result of the world's high dependence on oil and there are conflicts that occur 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 help Israel during the Arab-Israeli war. Other countries affected were the Netherlands, Portugal and South Africa due to their support for Israel. Because the United States was so heavily dependent on foreign oil, the economy was negatively affected, sending the United States into crisis for the next year. These great policies... half the newspaper... 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 17 November 2013).OPEC. "Short story." OPEC. http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/24.htm (accessed 14 November 2013). Talk about the history of OPEC, their mission and impact on 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 13 November 2013). Tuttle, Robert. “World economy is a 'major concern' for OPEC oil producers, says Badri.” 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).