1914-Present

What students are expected to know:

Major Developments

1. Questions of periodization

Continuities and breaks; causes of changes from the previous period and within this period

2. The World Wars, the Holocaust, the Cold War, nuclear weaponry, international organizations, and their impact on the global framework (globalization of diplomacy and conflict; global balance of power; reduction of European influence; the League of Nations, United Nations, Non-Aligned Nations, etc.)

3. New patterns of nationalism (fascism; decolonization; racism, genocide; the breakup of the Soviet Union)

4. Impact of major global economic developments (the Great Depression; technology; Pacific Rim; multinational corporations)

5. New forces of revolution and other sources of political innovations

6. Social reform and social revolution (changing gender roles; family structures; rise of feminism; peasant protest; international Marxism; religious fundamentalism)

7. Globalization of science, technology, and culture

Developments in global cultures and regional reactions, including science and consumer culture

Interactions between elite and popular culture and art

Patterns of resistance including religious responses

8. Demographic and environmental changes (migrations; changes in birthrates and death rates; new forms of urbanization; deforestation; green/environmental movements)

9. Diverse interpretations

Is cultural convergence or diversity the best model for understanding increased intercultural contact in the twentieth century?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using units of analysis in the twentieth century, such as the nation, the world, the West, and the developing world?

Major Comparisons and Snapshots

Compare patterns and results of decolonization in Africa and India

Pick two revolutions (Russian, Chinese, Cuban, Iranian) and compare their effects on the roles of women

Compare the effects of the World Wars on areas outside of Europe

Compare legacies of colonialism and patterns of economic development in two of three areas (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)

Analyze the notion of "the West" and "the East" in the context of Cold War ideology

Compare nationalist ideologies and movements in contrasting European and colonial environments

Compare the different types of independence struggles