20th Century


The 20th century is noted for decolonization and the end of attempts by Western european powers to maintain direct political rule over Asia and Africa. Two world wars, the rise of the United States to replace the British empire as the major world power, and the rise and fall of world communism as a rival to the United States and its allies also mark this period. The Middle east again began to play a central role in world affairs.	Sapience Home Site Map About Sapience History Modern History Early 20th Century Early mid 20th Century Mid 20th Century Late mid 20th Century Late 20th Century Early 21st Century
Technological and cultural developments including advances in medical practice, long-distance electronic communications, and the use of petroleum as a fuel for transportation resulted in rapid worldwide cultural change This century, like others, is divided arbitrarily into early, early mid, mid, late mid, and late periods of 20 years each. Until events of the 21st century have much further progressed, events of the early 21st century are being included along with them.

The 20th century is noted for decolonization and the end of attempts by Western european powers to maintain direct political rule over Asia and Africa.

Two world wars, the rise of the United States to replace the British empire as the major world power, and the rise and fall of world communism as a rival to the United States and its allies also mark this period. The Middle east again began to play a central role in world affairs.

Technological and cultural developments including advances in medical practice, long-distance electronic communications, and the use of petroleum as a fuel for transportation resulted in rapid worldwide cultural change

This century, like others, is divided arbitrarily into early, early mid, mid, late mid, and late periods of 20 years each. Until events of the 21st century have much further progressed, events of the early 21st century are being included along with them.

Early 20th century (1901-1920)

In the early 1900s, radio, the automobile, and the airplane were introduced. International rivalry and military buildup, especially among European powers, was evident. In the late 1900s, refinements of these and other inventions began to have influence on society, and the military buildup continued. In the early 1910s, this continued, and the Manchu Empire of China was broken up. In the late 1910s, the nations of Europe were pulled by military alliances into the Great War, later known as World War I. The Russian empire, the Austrian-Hungarian empire, and the Ottoman empire were all defeated and broken up in and by this war, and the Communist party took control of Russia.

Early middle 20th century (1921-1940)

In the early 1920s, industrial and communications technology developed substantially, and the automobile and airplane came into increasing use in western civilization. Elsewhere, there was increasing resentment of Western domination, and nationalist movements began to develop. These were often mixed with socialist and communist movements. In the late 1920s, the Great Depression began to affect much of the Western world, and nationalist movements continued. In the early 1930s, governments increasingly adopted socialist measures and ideologies to deal with the depression, and belligerent secular military dictatorships which were labeled fascist, began to arise. By the late 1930s, these had become sufficiently powerful to attempt to dominate their neighbors, and a second and more extensive World War began.

Middle 20th century (1941-1960)

During the early 1940s, the Second World War (WW II) was a great dividing point of world history. and most historians divide modern history into events before and after this war. In the late 1940s, the wartime alliance between the US, Britain, and France on one side and the Soviet Union, which came to dominate Eastern Europe on the other, broke apart and turned into opposition with a threat of nuclear warfare, while there was a wholesale retreat from Western political domination of Asia, as large areas gained their independence. In the early 1950s, a military and ideological standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, both now armed with nuclear weapons, threatened to become open warfare. In the late 1950s, this "cold war" continued to influence and shape the development of the newly independent nations. The retreat from colonialism continued as Europeans began to withdraw from Africa as well.

Late middle 20th century (1961-1980)

The early 1960s are noted for continued tension between the USS and USSR, that spilled over into armed conflicts between USSR supported revolutionary movements, and US support of existing governments. In the late 1960s, the US was heavily involved in a war in Vietnam as the most violent of these conflicts, while it underwent substantial social change. In the early 1970s, the US withdrew from Vietnam, and began to attempt to ease relations with the USSR and the Peoples's Republic of China. By the late 1970s, much of the US-Soviet tension had eased, but terrorist and Islamic militant movements began to occupy greater attention in the world.

Late 20th century (1981-2000)

The early 1980s are noted for increased tension between the United States and the USSR. In the late 1980s, new leadership and open recognition of the limitations of Soviet economic policies led to the overthrow and dismantling of Communist governments in the Soviet bloc, although dissent was stifled in East Asia. In the early 1990s, the Soviet Union itself split apart, though attempts at economic reform led instead to a serious economic decline, and the US became more aggressive about using military force. In the late 1990s, attempts at using US military force for peacekeeping under UN direction had limited success.

Early 21st century (2001-Present)

In the early 2000s, a terrorist attack on the US by Islamic militants led to a long-lasting warin Iraq and Afghanistan. The late 2000s are considered current events and are a principal focus of news coverage.


Science Discoveries in physics and chemistry have contributed directly and indirectly to other events. Astronomy including Solar system astronomy, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy, and cosmology can be considered. Earth science including geology, hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, physical geography, and geohistory can be connected. Biology including molecular biology, cell biology, organism biology, systematics, ecology, and geohistory will be significant. Personal studies The human body including body systems, body functions, human life cycle, disease, and form and appearance can be connected. Psychology including examination of behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, developmental psychology, mental disorders, personality, and social psychology will be useful. More direct use is made of biography. Particular figures are not listed here in this century, but are distributed into the particular 20 year periods when they lived and worked. Anthropology Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group types, ands social group behavior will be useful. Demography including birthds, deaths, migration, population size and structure, and population change will need to be examined. Physical anthropology including human origins, racial variation, and human dispersion is also important. Human ecology gained attention in this period, Enviornmental influence on people, relationships with other life forms, and influence of humankind on the environment have become significant. Human geography is also quite significant. This includes European geography, North American geography, and African geography. South American geography and Oceanic geography are also useful. Asian geography including Southwest Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia is also important. Particular groups will be significant, also.	Links to other sites: 1901-WW II (Frank Smitha) 1946-21st Century (Frank Smitha) 1900-1999 World History - Infoplease 1900-1999 AD World History FactMonster.com 20th Century - Wikipedia Timelines 1900-2000 About.com: 20th Century history Internet Modern History Sourecebook: The 20th century, War, Conflict, and Progress British Academy Portal: Modern history from c. 1800 Historical Atlas of the 20th Century (Not updated since 2003, but still useful) Twentieth Century Information from Answers.com Twentieth Century History in the Yahoo! Directory The 20th Century(CNN.com)
Culture In Material culture, Industrial technology including tools, fuels, chemical technology, machinery, utilities, and other technology continued to develop rapidly, prompting numerous other changes. There was massive and continuing change in foodstuffs including agricultural products, preserved and processed foods, and prepared foods. Building, clothing and transportation also progressed. Communication technology including written communication, graphic communication, and electrial communication can be considered. Other artifacts such as toys, weaponry. medicines, musical instruments, and sculpture also developed. Conceptual culture is also important. Language with linguistics, writing, and languages of the world is vital. graphic arts including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and computer graphics are significant. Literature and its areas of myth and tradition, nonfiction, and imaginative literature; Mathematics including mathematical foundations, arithmetic, algebra, analysis, geometry, and statustics can be found, Applied science including measurement, engineering science, navigation, medical science, information and computing science, accounting, and applied social science can be considered. Philosophy such as metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and philosophical schools and doctrines is also important. Behavioral culture is also important in 20th century history. This includes customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment custom, social interaction customs, and institutional customs. Occupations including food related occupations, building related occupations, transportation related occupations, communication related occupations, service related occupations, and industrial occupations are conneted. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, and theater, and games. Sports have come to occupy a prominent position. Cultural events such as miscellaneous events, fairs and conventions, holidays, and disasters are also significant. Institutions Families including marriage, parent-child relations, kinship, and particular families remain fundamental but have been criticized. Education including research is also important. Teaching is important. Cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and other venues are highly important. Educational organization including course material, students, faculty, and administration will be useful. Particular schools including basic education, secondary education, and higher education is highly significant. Higher education at schools such as Harvard University is important. Economics including Activities including production, distribution, and consumption, industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and extraction, construction and building, transportation, communication, and social and medical will be useful. Particular companies such as Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP can be examined. Commerical and financial industries including companies such as Wal Mart can be considered. Economic systems such as firms, networks, types of systems, and economic system behavior are also important. Government is particularly significant. Law including tribal law, Asiatic law, Western law, and international law can be considered. Government structure including political parties, judicial systems, legislative systems, executive systems, government heads, and forms of government are also important. Government activity such as administration is also significant. Succession including election, inheritance, appointment, and siezure has been significant in this century. State relations including diplomacy, espionage, and warfare are also significant. Particular governments including local and national governments such as monarchies, and dictatorships are significant. International government is also important. The last traditional empires fell, colonial empires declined almost as much, and modern compacts including temporary alliances, special organizations, regional organizations, and world governments such as the League of Nations and the United Nations became prominent. Religion has remained significant. Religious belief, practice, and organization such as unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured religions are all significant. Particular traditions are also valuable. Abrahamic religion remains an important influence. Christianity including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Other Christianity, and Mormonism retained strength, as did Islam. Judaism remained important. Asiatic religions such as Indian religion including Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism; Oriental religion such as Confucianism, and Taoism; and Persian religion including Zoroastrianism, and Manicheanism are also significant. Pagan religions continued to decline in importance, although a neo-pagan revival movement became noticeable. Secularism increased substantially. Sociology As with history in general and modern history, the examination of social structure and change, communities, and peoples of the world gives weight and substance to 20th century history. Other History Classical and medieval history is not as useful for examination of the 20th century as more recent history is. Events of the 20th century are continuations and developments of the 19th century, particularly the late 19th century. For now, current events (of the 21st century) are still being discussed here. Developments will be projected into the future, especially the near future including the next month ( December 2007 and January 2008), next quarter including February 2008 and March 2008, and next year including the second quarter 2008, third quarter 2008, and fourth quarter 2008 and somewhat into the middle future including the next 5 years, next 20 years, next century, and next 5 centuries. The far future has not yet been examined.

Science

Discoveries in physics and chemistry have contributed directly and indirectly to other events. Astronomy including Solar system astronomy, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy, and cosmology can be considered. Earth science including geology, hydrospheric science, atmospheric science, physical geography, and geohistory can be connected. Biology including molecular biology, cell biology, organism biology, systematics, ecology, and geohistory will be significant.

Personal studies

The human body including body systems, body functions, human life cycle, disease, and form and appearance can be connected. Psychology including examination of behavioral elements, mind, behavior patterns, developmental psychology, mental disorders, personality, and social psychology will be useful. More direct use is made of biography. Particular figures are not listed here in this century, but are distributed into the particular 20 year periods when they lived and worked.

Anthropology

Social foundations including social presentation, social interaction, social control, social group types, ands social group behavior will be useful. Demography including birthds, deaths, migration, population size and structure, and population change will need to be examined. Physical anthropology including human origins, racial variation, and human dispersion is also important. Human ecology gained attention in this period, Enviornmental influence on people, relationships with other life forms, and influence of humankind on the environment have become significant. Human geography is also quite significant. This includes European geography, North American geography, and African geography. South American geography and Oceanic geography are also useful. Asian geography including Southwest Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North Asia is also important. Particular groups will be significant, also.

Links to other sites:

1901-WW II (Frank Smitha)
1946-21st Century (Frank Smitha)
1900-1999 World History - Infoplease
1900-1999 AD World History FactMonster.com
20th Century - Wikipedia
Timelines 1900-2000
About.com: 20th Century history
Internet Modern History Sourecebook: The 20th century, War, Conflict, and Progress
British Academy Portal: Modern history from c. 1800
Historical Atlas of the 20th Century (Not updated since 2003, but still useful)
Twentieth Century Information from Answers.com
Twentieth Century History in the Yahoo! Directory
The 20th Century(CNN.com)

Culture

In Material culture, Industrial technology including tools, fuels, chemical technology, machinery, utilities, and other technology continued to develop rapidly, prompting numerous other changes. There was massive and continuing change in foodstuffs including agricultural products, preserved and processed foods, and prepared foods. Building, clothing and transportation also progressed. Communication technology including written communication, graphic communication, and electrial communication can be considered. Other artifacts such as toys, weaponry. medicines, musical instruments, and sculpture also developed.

Conceptual culture is also important. Language with linguistics, writing, and languages of the world is vital. graphic arts including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and computer graphics are significant. Literature and its areas of myth and tradition, nonfiction, and imaginative literature; Mathematics including mathematical foundations, arithmetic, algebra, analysis, geometry, and statustics can be found, Applied science including measurement, engineering science, navigation, medical science, information and computing science, accounting, and applied social science can be considered. Philosophy such as metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and philosophical schools and doctrines is also important.

Behavioral culture is also important in 20th century history. This includes customs including vital customs, living and dwelling customs, dress and adornment custom, social interaction customs, and institutional customs. Occupations including food related occupations, building related occupations, transportation related occupations, communication related occupations, service related occupations, and industrial occupations are conneted. Recreation and entertainment such as music, dance, and theater, and games. Sports have come to occupy a prominent position. Cultural events such as miscellaneous events, fairs and conventions, holidays, and disasters are also significant.

Institutions

Families including marriage, parent-child relations, kinship, and particular families remain fundamental but have been criticized.

Education including research is also important. Teaching is important. Cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, and other venues are highly important. Educational organization including course material, students, faculty, and administration will be useful. Particular schools including basic education, secondary education, and higher education is highly significant. Higher education at schools such as Harvard University is important.

Economics including Activities including production, distribution, and consumption, industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and extraction, construction and building, transportation, communication, and social and medical will be useful. Particular companies such as Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP can be examined. Commerical and financial industries including companies such as Wal Mart can be considered. Economic systems such as firms, networks, types of systems, and economic system behavior are also important.

Government is particularly significant. Law including tribal law, Asiatic law, Western law, and international law can be considered. Government structure including political parties, judicial systems, legislative systems, executive systems, government heads, and forms of government are also important. Government activity such as administration is also significant. Succession including election, inheritance, appointment, and siezure has been significant in this century. State relations including diplomacy, espionage, and warfare are also significant. Particular governments including local and national governments such as monarchies, and dictatorships are significant. International government is also important. The last traditional empires fell, colonial empires declined almost as much, and modern compacts including temporary alliances, special organizations, regional organizations, and world governments such as the League of Nations and the United Nations became prominent.

Religion has remained significant. Religious belief, practice, and organization such as unstructured, fragmented, and highly structured religions are all significant. Particular traditions are also valuable. Abrahamic religion remains an important influence. Christianity including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Other Christianity, and Mormonism retained strength, as did Islam. Judaism remained important. Asiatic religions such as Indian religion including Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism; Oriental religion such as Confucianism, and Taoism; and Persian religion including Zoroastrianism, and Manicheanism are also significant. Pagan religions continued to decline in importance, although a neo-pagan revival movement became noticeable. Secularism increased substantially.

Sociology

As with history in general and modern history, the examination of social structure and change, communities, and peoples of the world gives weight and substance to 20th century history.

Other History

Classical and medieval history is not as useful for examination of the 20th century as more recent history is. Events of the 20th century are continuations and developments of the 19th century, particularly the late 19th century.

For now, current events (of the 21st century) are still being discussed here. Developments will be projected into the future, especially the near future including the next month ( December 2007 and January 2008), next quarter including February 2008 and March 2008, and next year including the second quarter 2008, third quarter 2008, and fourth quarter 2008 and somewhat into the middle future including the next 5 years, next 20 years, next century, and next 5 centuries. The far future has not yet been examined.

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