A group of five American historians attempt to summarize the grand sweep of the political, economic, and social forces that swept the world in the 20th century. Thematically organized, the material frequently visits events before 1900 in order to explain processes that had begun before the century dawned. Although in any work of such broad scope important events will be neglected, the authors do an admirable job of following developments in the developed West and the underdeveloped South with equal attention, discussing interactions between the two when they are pertinent, such as in their discussions of imperialism, colonialism, and nationalist independence struggles. Communist and other revolutions are considered, as is the competition between competing economic systems. The development of political oppositions of the New Left in Europe and America and the Islamic Fundamentalists in the Muslim world are examples of developments within nations considered. Chapters are also devoted to considerations of feminism, war and peace, the developments of science, population growth, and the dangers of globalization. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Three grand themes characterized the twentieth century: crises on a scale that outstripped any in human history; revolutionary ideology and action that brought social and political transformations on a global scale; and new technologies breathtaking in their pace and innovation. It was a century of triumphant creativity and achievement, yet it witnessed violence and destruction of appalling, even cataclysmic, intensity. How can such contradictions be captured so that those who live in the twenty-first century may understand, and perhaps learn from, the varieties of human experience in the twenty-first century may understand, and perhaps learn from, the varieties of human experience in the twentieth century? The authors go back to 1880 to present a thematic history of the tumultuous 20th century organized in fifteen chapters that stress cultural, social, and material issues as well as major political developments. Carefully selected case studies bring to life in ordinary experience the themes of each chapter. Themes with a temporal orientation are featured in Part One on the “Early Century” (Modernization, Imperialism, Materialism, Socialist Revolution, and Fascism); and in Part Two on the “Later Century” (Decolonization, Peasant Movements, 1960s’ Radicalism, and Islamic Fundamentalism). Part three takes up larger themes that encompass the whole century (Feminism, War and Peace, Science, Population, and Economic Inequality). Illustrations and suggestions for further reading, films, and videos, enhance this innovative text.
Three grand themes characterized the twentieth century: crises on a scale that outstripped any in human history, revolutionary ideology and action that brought social and political transformation on a global scale, and new technologies breathtaking in their pace and innovation. Through a discussion of overarching ideas and through case studies, this book explores the contradictions, commonalties, and varieties of human experience. Thematic chapters deal with issues such as modernization, imperialism, social revolutions, fascism, feminism, fundamentalism, war and peace, science, population, and economic inequality.
