1. 1914 – Present Why this periodization?
Contemporary History

2. Industrialization & Empire Building on Unprecedented Scale
Great War (WWI)
Revolution in China & Russia
Collapse of Ottoman Empire
Capitalist countries fell into deep economic depression
Soviet industrialization

3. Rise of Totalitarian Leaders
Germany
Italy
Japan
Spain
China
WWII

4. Decolonization
Africa
Asia
Latin America
India

5. Rise of Communism Cold War Soviet Union Bipolarization of the World
Proxy Wars
Nuclear proliferation
Soviet Union
China

6. Steps Towards World Peace
Collapse of Soviet Union
Curtailment of nuclear arms
United Nations

7. United States as Dominant Power
Economically
Militarily

8. Current Issues Widening gap between rich and poor Environmental damage
Global terror