Events That Changed the World in the Twentieth Century

The aftershocks of the volatile 20th century will be felt for generations to come. In order to understand the current and future direction of the world, it is imperative to reflect on this century's seminal events and their lasting impact. Designed for students, this unique resource offers detailed descriptions and expert analysis of the 20th century's most important events: World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Rise of Fascism, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Chinese Revolution, the end of Colonialism and the Rise of the Third World, European unification, and the collapse of the Soviet union. Each of the events is dealt with in a separate chapter. An introductory essay presenting the facts about each event precedes an interpretive essay by a recognized authority on the event. Exploring beyond the traditional textbook treatment of history, these interpretive essays consider the immediate and far-reaching ramifications of each event. Through this innovative approach, students will be inspired to further analyze these events not only from a historical perspective, but also in the context of the world in which they live today.

In order to make complex history easily understandable, the ]ntroductory essay for each event provides factual background in a clear, concise, chronological manner. Written for a general readership, the interpretive essays assess each event in terms of its political, economic, sociocultural, and international/diplomatic impact. Some essays validate the norm, while others challenge conventional wisdom; all reflect the most recent scholarship concerning each event. Each interpretive essay is followed by an annotated bibliography that identifies the most important and most recent scholarship about the respective events. A photo of each event offers a visual component to the narrative. The volume contains four useful appendices: a glossary of names, events, organizations, treaties, and terms; a timeline of important events in 20th-century world history; the population of selected countries; and a list of states achieving independence since 1945. This work is perfect for the high school, community college, and undergraduate library reference shelf, as well as supplementary reading in social studies and world history courses.

List of contents

Preface
World War I, 1914-1918
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Marilyn Shevin-Coetzee and Frans Coetzee
The Russian Revolution, 1917-1921
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Bruce Adams
The Rise of Fascism, 1919-1945
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by George P. Blum
The Great Depression, 1929-1939
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Lowell J. Satre
World War II, 1937-1945
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Larry Thornton
The Cold War, 1946-1991
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by T. Philip Wolf
The Chinese Revolution, 1911-1949
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom
The End of Colonialism and the Rise of the Third World, c. 1945-present
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Marijan Salopek
European Unification
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Richard A. Leiby
The Collapse of the Soviet Union, c. 1947-present
Introduction
Interpretive Essay by Charles E. Ziegler
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Timeline
Appendix C: Population of Selected Countries
Appendix D: States Achieving Independence Since 1945
Index

About the author

FRANK W. THACKERAY is coeditor of the Greenwood Press Events That Changed the World Series, coeditor of Statesmen Who Changed the World: A Bio-Bibliographical Dictionary of Diplomacy (Greenwood Press, 1993), and author of Antecedents of Revolution: Alexander I and the Polish Congress Kingdom, 1815-1825 (1980). He is Professor of History at Indiana University Southeast. He received a Fulbright Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant to Poland and has written extensively about Russo-Polish relations in the 19th and 20th centuries.

JOHN E. FINDLING is coeditor of the Greenwood Press Events That Changed the World Series. He is the author of Dictionary of American Diplomatic History (Greenwood Press, rev. ed., 1989), and Close Neighbors, Distant Friends: U.S.-Central American Relations (1987). He is the editor of Historical Dictionary of Worlds Fairs and Expositions (1990) and coeditor of Statesmen Who Changed the World: A Bio-Bibliographical Dictionary of Diplomacy (Greenwood Press, 1993). He is Professor of History at Indiana University Southeast.

Product details

• Authors: John Findling, Findling John E., Frank Thackeray, Thackeray Frank W.
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 24.03.1995
• EAN: 9780313290756
• ISBN: 978-0-313-29075-6
• Series: The Greenwood Press "Events That Changed the World" Series
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; HISTORY / World, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, HISTORY / Reference, world history, General & world history, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Reference works, General and world history