1
Periods 7, 8 and 9: Accelerating Global Change and Realignments, c 1900 to
the Present.
Modern 1900 CE M.A.I.N. Decolonization Green Revolution
World Wars Cold War Semi-Periphery
present Communism United Nations Neo-colonization
Consumerism Proxy Wars Economic Liberalism
SUMMARY OF THE PERIOD
Period 7,8 and 9 (Modern) picks up where the Long 19th century left off. By 1900, imperialism is
dominating global politics and economics and will be an underlying cause of the World Wars. M.A.I.N. is the
acronym that stands for the causes of the World Wars (WWI in particular) and stands for Militarism, Alliances,
Imperialism, and Nationalism, which were all major political and economic forces in the 19th century. Overall
the World Wars saw the struggle and competition between Britain and its allies against Germany and its allies
(although a lot more complex than that). World War I (1914-1918) led to the rise of Communism in Russia and
the eventual Russian, Bolshevik Revolution that would go on to create the Soviet Union. Western Europe and
the United States developed greater levels of consumerism in the 1920s which ultimately led to the global Great
Depression of the 1930s. The Great Depression would lead to governments across the globe taking a greater
role in their economies as seen by Roosevelt’s New Deal, Stalin’s Five Year Plans and the development of
fascism in Germany, Italy and Japan. World War II (1939-1945) would be a result of this economic collapse of
the 1930s and the failed Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.
World War II caused utter destruction to the European continent. This collapse of European power left
two major superpowers in the world, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR). This Cold War (1945-
1989/91), so called because the two countries never directly fought, would play an important role in global
politics for the next 50 years. The United States, backing ideas of democratic capitalism, was in an ideological
and armed struggle with the Soviet Union who was backing Communism/Socialism. Collapsing European
power combined with nationalist efforts in colonies that began in the long 19th century (think Sepoy and Boxer
Rebellion) would lead to the decolonization of Africa and Asia, sometimes peaceful, like India and sometimes
more violent, like Vietnam and Algeria. As new nations were formed from former colonies, they got caught in
the middle of the ideological struggle of the Cold War and proxy wars ensued. These proxy wars pitted the sides
backed by the United States and the Soviet Union against one another for leadership and control of the new
nations often creating a great deal of violence. The proxy wars occurred throughout the globe in new nations,
but notable proxy wars took place in China, Korea, Vietnam, the Congo, Cuba, Iran and Afghanistan. So, while
decolonization itself may have come about with peace, often significant violence would result from the power
vacuum created in the new nations. One more major player developed after World War II was the United
Nations. Many nations around the globe seeing the results of World Wars wanted to take steps towards global
peace. After World War I, the League of Nations was founded, but it was mostly ineffective, but after World
War II, the United Nations was created, and its effectiveness is still ambiguous (some success, some failures).
The end of this period doesn’t really reflect the “End” of anything, as we don’t really know the “End” of
history, or the modern era. It is meant to be a snapshot of the world we live in today. The Green Revolution, or
3rd Agricultural Revolution, saw the beginning of Genetically-Modified Plants (GMOs) and significant rise of
crop production led to an explosion in the global population, mostly in poorer countries. The global economy
also changed in that core countries were no longer the main manufacturing hubs of the world and became places
of service and technology. The Semi-Periphery, like Brazil, Mexico, India and China, became major
manufacturing places while periphery countries remain the major producers of agricultural products and raw
materials. Neo-colonization is a complicated idea of the way “third world” countries remain in the periphery.
Although many of the countries are no longer colonies of empires, they are often exploited by large
corporations and financial markets that seek to keep them producing stuff for cheap, mainly raw materials.
Economic liberalism is the idea of globalization, or really breaking down trade barriers between countries. This
leads to ideas like the EU, NAFTA and ASEAN that no longer have tariffs between countries and labor can
, 2
move freely between these areas. Overall, this is a period of major population growth, tremendous technological
growth, deadly military power, international divisions of labor and unprecedented amounts of global trade.
Key Concept 7.1 Science and the Environment
Big Picture: Rapid advances in science altered the understanding of the universe and the natural world and led
to the development of new technologies. These changes enabled unprecedented population growth, which
altered how humans interacted with the environment and threatened delicate ecological balances at local,
regional, and global levels. Scientific advancements in this period have touched every aspect of life and
population growth has been a tremendous outcome of that. That population growth has been both incredible in
longer life expectancies and major medical advancements eradicating epidemic diseases. However, this
population growth has put major strains on the environment and its resources.
I. Researchers made rapid advances in science that spread throughout the world, assisted by the
development of new technology. Major advances in science in this period were made. Many of them were
made as part of war preparation and technology. As countries spent more money on developing supply
, 3
lines and trying to defeat enemies, it fueled technological change at an incredible rate in world history
standards.
A. New modes of communication and transportation reduced the problem of geographic distance. This is
called time-space compression in geography. Better and faster communication and transportation allow people,
goods and ideas to move at ever growing rates. The examples below are all relatively familiar, but some
chronology is helpful
Time Modes of Communication Modes of Transportation
Long 19 century
th
Telegraph Railroads
Beginning Modern Radio Cars/Vehicles
Middle Modern Television Cargo Shipping
End Modern Computer/Smart Technology/Internet Passenger Airplanes/Cargo Shipping
Not Explicitly in New Framework but really interesting in how we understand the world today.
New scientific paradigms transformed human understanding of the world. These new scientific ideas led to tremendously
new ideas about how people saw the world. The field and discipline of psychology was started in this period and
developments in physics advanced human understanding at the molecular and cosmic level. A paradigm shift is when the
very essence of scientific thought has changed, for example after the Copernican model for the universe was developed
and accepted by the scientific community, scientists no longer could argue for a geo-centric world. Paradigm shifts change
the starting point for scientific thinking. Examples of new scientific paradigms:
Psychology – psychology has changed the way we see human behavior. Earliest contributions were by Sigmund
Freud who used psychoanalysis to examine why people behaved certain ways. While many of Freud’s ideas have
been discredited over time he did lead to an important way of thinking about the human mind. Freud used
psychoanalysis to tap into people subconscious because he believed people’s actions and behaviors were best
understood through moving beyond the conscious mind. In other words, Freud’s arguments say that people don’t
even understand themselves or know their own minds, which had been one of the last fixed positions in
philosophy and human understanding.
The theory of relativity – Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity fundamentally altered the way scientists and
people saw the universe. By arguing that space and time are only relative to the viewer and were not fixed
positions in the cosmos, the commonsense notion of the universe that had existed vanished and was replaced by
mathematical equations and mental constructs.
Quantum mechanics – Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with phenomena at the molecular and
microscopic level. It explains the movement of electrons and atoms and other nearly unobservable physics. Most
of this is in mathematical functions but it opens questions about how the universe works at the smallest level. It
opens up questions about what is matter, what causes motion, how is it measured and numerous other questions of
magnetism, momentum and mechanics.
The Big Bang theory – The Big Bang Theory is the prevailing scientific theory that explains the beginning and
early development of the universe. It argues that roughly 13.5 billion years ago, the universe was in an extremely
dense and hot state and then began expanding rapidly and as it did so, it cooled creating subatomic particles, and
then nuclei and formed elements which then through gravity combined to form stars and galaxies which then had
the heat and pressure necessary to create the heavily elements. This fundamentally questioned traditional and
religious notions about the origins of the universe.
B. The Green Revolution produced food for the earth’s growing population as it spread chemically and
genetically enhanced forms of agriculture. Population pressure and scientific advancements spurred the Green
Revolution, in which genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were developed to produce higher crop yields.
These were most importantly developed in corn and wheat crops that were grown in India and Mexico and then
spread to other places. These GMOs proved more drought-resistant and could put more land under cultivation
and more of the crop would survive.
C. Medical innovations increased the ability of humans to survive. Numerous medical innovations in this
timer period have extended human life expectancy and eradicated numerous epidemic diseases. Vaccinations,
immunizations and better public health have significantly reduced infant mortality as well.
, 4
Examples of medical innovations:
The polio vaccine – The polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk, significantly worldwide polio cases. The
vaccine and eradication of polio has improved the quality of life for millions of people and help expand
life expectancy across the globe.
Antibiotics – Antibiotics are agents that prohibit growth or kill bacteria, one of the leading causes of
disease. The most important early antibiotic was penicillin, a mold that could treat various infections.
Alexander Fleming and later German chemistry laboratories were most instrumental in the early stages
of development of antibiotics.
The artificial heart – various forms of the artificial heart have been developed over the last 40 years and
several successful transplants have occurred since the 1980s.
D. Energy technologies including the use of petroleum and nuclear power raised productivity and increased
the production of material goods. The use of oil/petroleum as a fuel source has been important since the 2nd
Industrial Revolution (late 19th century). It primarily replaced the use of steam engines and running water/water
wheels. Burning the fuel provided a tremendous source of energy for factories, vehicles, etc. Furthermore, with
the development of nuclear technology in the mid-20th century, nuclear power in the form of nuclear fission
(splitting of atoms) provides a great deal of power for homes in the form of electricity and factories to
significantly increase the ability to produce massive numbers of goods.
II. During a period of unprecedented global population expansion, humans fundamentally changed their
relationship with the environment.
A. As human activity contributed to deforestation, desertification, and increased consumption of the world’s
supply of fresh water and clean air, humans competed over these and other resources more intensely than ever
before. Many of the earth’s resources are finite (there is only a fixed amount). Oil and natural gas, uranium
reserves (for nuclear power), fresh water reserves and other resources have been used at increasing rates. People
and countries have begun competing for these resources causing violence between countries. Air and water
pollution have been effects of the increased industrialization and population pressures of the 20th century.
Unregulated environmental policies in growing economies and the burning of coal and fuel for energy have
greatly increased the amount of pollutants in the environment. Deforestation has increased as more land has
been put under cultivation in the Green Revolution. Desertification has also occurred with the Green Revolution
and the Sahara Desert, among others, has continued to expand, putting additional pressure on arable land and
fresh water sources. Finally, with population pressure, increased industrialization and environmental
degradation, more species have become extinct over the past 100 years. GMOs of the Green Revolution had
decreased biodiversity and many animals have been hunted or bred out of extinction.
B. The release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere contributed to debates about the
nature and causes of climate change.
Periods 7, 8 and 9: Accelerating Global Change and Realignments, c 1900 to
the Present.
Modern 1900 CE M.A.I.N. Decolonization Green Revolution
World Wars Cold War Semi-Periphery
present Communism United Nations Neo-colonization
Consumerism Proxy Wars Economic Liberalism
SUMMARY OF THE PERIOD
Period 7,8 and 9 (Modern) picks up where the Long 19th century left off. By 1900, imperialism is
dominating global politics and economics and will be an underlying cause of the World Wars. M.A.I.N. is the
acronym that stands for the causes of the World Wars (WWI in particular) and stands for Militarism, Alliances,
Imperialism, and Nationalism, which were all major political and economic forces in the 19th century. Overall
the World Wars saw the struggle and competition between Britain and its allies against Germany and its allies
(although a lot more complex than that). World War I (1914-1918) led to the rise of Communism in Russia and
the eventual Russian, Bolshevik Revolution that would go on to create the Soviet Union. Western Europe and
the United States developed greater levels of consumerism in the 1920s which ultimately led to the global Great
Depression of the 1930s. The Great Depression would lead to governments across the globe taking a greater
role in their economies as seen by Roosevelt’s New Deal, Stalin’s Five Year Plans and the development of
fascism in Germany, Italy and Japan. World War II (1939-1945) would be a result of this economic collapse of
the 1930s and the failed Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.
World War II caused utter destruction to the European continent. This collapse of European power left
two major superpowers in the world, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR). This Cold War (1945-
1989/91), so called because the two countries never directly fought, would play an important role in global
politics for the next 50 years. The United States, backing ideas of democratic capitalism, was in an ideological
and armed struggle with the Soviet Union who was backing Communism/Socialism. Collapsing European
power combined with nationalist efforts in colonies that began in the long 19th century (think Sepoy and Boxer
Rebellion) would lead to the decolonization of Africa and Asia, sometimes peaceful, like India and sometimes
more violent, like Vietnam and Algeria. As new nations were formed from former colonies, they got caught in
the middle of the ideological struggle of the Cold War and proxy wars ensued. These proxy wars pitted the sides
backed by the United States and the Soviet Union against one another for leadership and control of the new
nations often creating a great deal of violence. The proxy wars occurred throughout the globe in new nations,
but notable proxy wars took place in China, Korea, Vietnam, the Congo, Cuba, Iran and Afghanistan. So, while
decolonization itself may have come about with peace, often significant violence would result from the power
vacuum created in the new nations. One more major player developed after World War II was the United
Nations. Many nations around the globe seeing the results of World Wars wanted to take steps towards global
peace. After World War I, the League of Nations was founded, but it was mostly ineffective, but after World
War II, the United Nations was created, and its effectiveness is still ambiguous (some success, some failures).
The end of this period doesn’t really reflect the “End” of anything, as we don’t really know the “End” of
history, or the modern era. It is meant to be a snapshot of the world we live in today. The Green Revolution, or
3rd Agricultural Revolution, saw the beginning of Genetically-Modified Plants (GMOs) and significant rise of
crop production led to an explosion in the global population, mostly in poorer countries. The global economy
also changed in that core countries were no longer the main manufacturing hubs of the world and became places
of service and technology. The Semi-Periphery, like Brazil, Mexico, India and China, became major
manufacturing places while periphery countries remain the major producers of agricultural products and raw
materials. Neo-colonization is a complicated idea of the way “third world” countries remain in the periphery.
Although many of the countries are no longer colonies of empires, they are often exploited by large
corporations and financial markets that seek to keep them producing stuff for cheap, mainly raw materials.
Economic liberalism is the idea of globalization, or really breaking down trade barriers between countries. This
leads to ideas like the EU, NAFTA and ASEAN that no longer have tariffs between countries and labor can
, 2
move freely between these areas. Overall, this is a period of major population growth, tremendous technological
growth, deadly military power, international divisions of labor and unprecedented amounts of global trade.
Key Concept 7.1 Science and the Environment
Big Picture: Rapid advances in science altered the understanding of the universe and the natural world and led
to the development of new technologies. These changes enabled unprecedented population growth, which
altered how humans interacted with the environment and threatened delicate ecological balances at local,
regional, and global levels. Scientific advancements in this period have touched every aspect of life and
population growth has been a tremendous outcome of that. That population growth has been both incredible in
longer life expectancies and major medical advancements eradicating epidemic diseases. However, this
population growth has put major strains on the environment and its resources.
I. Researchers made rapid advances in science that spread throughout the world, assisted by the
development of new technology. Major advances in science in this period were made. Many of them were
made as part of war preparation and technology. As countries spent more money on developing supply
, 3
lines and trying to defeat enemies, it fueled technological change at an incredible rate in world history
standards.
A. New modes of communication and transportation reduced the problem of geographic distance. This is
called time-space compression in geography. Better and faster communication and transportation allow people,
goods and ideas to move at ever growing rates. The examples below are all relatively familiar, but some
chronology is helpful
Time Modes of Communication Modes of Transportation
Long 19 century
th
Telegraph Railroads
Beginning Modern Radio Cars/Vehicles
Middle Modern Television Cargo Shipping
End Modern Computer/Smart Technology/Internet Passenger Airplanes/Cargo Shipping
Not Explicitly in New Framework but really interesting in how we understand the world today.
New scientific paradigms transformed human understanding of the world. These new scientific ideas led to tremendously
new ideas about how people saw the world. The field and discipline of psychology was started in this period and
developments in physics advanced human understanding at the molecular and cosmic level. A paradigm shift is when the
very essence of scientific thought has changed, for example after the Copernican model for the universe was developed
and accepted by the scientific community, scientists no longer could argue for a geo-centric world. Paradigm shifts change
the starting point for scientific thinking. Examples of new scientific paradigms:
Psychology – psychology has changed the way we see human behavior. Earliest contributions were by Sigmund
Freud who used psychoanalysis to examine why people behaved certain ways. While many of Freud’s ideas have
been discredited over time he did lead to an important way of thinking about the human mind. Freud used
psychoanalysis to tap into people subconscious because he believed people’s actions and behaviors were best
understood through moving beyond the conscious mind. In other words, Freud’s arguments say that people don’t
even understand themselves or know their own minds, which had been one of the last fixed positions in
philosophy and human understanding.
The theory of relativity – Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity fundamentally altered the way scientists and
people saw the universe. By arguing that space and time are only relative to the viewer and were not fixed
positions in the cosmos, the commonsense notion of the universe that had existed vanished and was replaced by
mathematical equations and mental constructs.
Quantum mechanics – Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with phenomena at the molecular and
microscopic level. It explains the movement of electrons and atoms and other nearly unobservable physics. Most
of this is in mathematical functions but it opens questions about how the universe works at the smallest level. It
opens up questions about what is matter, what causes motion, how is it measured and numerous other questions of
magnetism, momentum and mechanics.
The Big Bang theory – The Big Bang Theory is the prevailing scientific theory that explains the beginning and
early development of the universe. It argues that roughly 13.5 billion years ago, the universe was in an extremely
dense and hot state and then began expanding rapidly and as it did so, it cooled creating subatomic particles, and
then nuclei and formed elements which then through gravity combined to form stars and galaxies which then had
the heat and pressure necessary to create the heavily elements. This fundamentally questioned traditional and
religious notions about the origins of the universe.
B. The Green Revolution produced food for the earth’s growing population as it spread chemically and
genetically enhanced forms of agriculture. Population pressure and scientific advancements spurred the Green
Revolution, in which genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were developed to produce higher crop yields.
These were most importantly developed in corn and wheat crops that were grown in India and Mexico and then
spread to other places. These GMOs proved more drought-resistant and could put more land under cultivation
and more of the crop would survive.
C. Medical innovations increased the ability of humans to survive. Numerous medical innovations in this
timer period have extended human life expectancy and eradicated numerous epidemic diseases. Vaccinations,
immunizations and better public health have significantly reduced infant mortality as well.
, 4
Examples of medical innovations:
The polio vaccine – The polio vaccine, developed by Jonas Salk, significantly worldwide polio cases. The
vaccine and eradication of polio has improved the quality of life for millions of people and help expand
life expectancy across the globe.
Antibiotics – Antibiotics are agents that prohibit growth or kill bacteria, one of the leading causes of
disease. The most important early antibiotic was penicillin, a mold that could treat various infections.
Alexander Fleming and later German chemistry laboratories were most instrumental in the early stages
of development of antibiotics.
The artificial heart – various forms of the artificial heart have been developed over the last 40 years and
several successful transplants have occurred since the 1980s.
D. Energy technologies including the use of petroleum and nuclear power raised productivity and increased
the production of material goods. The use of oil/petroleum as a fuel source has been important since the 2nd
Industrial Revolution (late 19th century). It primarily replaced the use of steam engines and running water/water
wheels. Burning the fuel provided a tremendous source of energy for factories, vehicles, etc. Furthermore, with
the development of nuclear technology in the mid-20th century, nuclear power in the form of nuclear fission
(splitting of atoms) provides a great deal of power for homes in the form of electricity and factories to
significantly increase the ability to produce massive numbers of goods.
II. During a period of unprecedented global population expansion, humans fundamentally changed their
relationship with the environment.
A. As human activity contributed to deforestation, desertification, and increased consumption of the world’s
supply of fresh water and clean air, humans competed over these and other resources more intensely than ever
before. Many of the earth’s resources are finite (there is only a fixed amount). Oil and natural gas, uranium
reserves (for nuclear power), fresh water reserves and other resources have been used at increasing rates. People
and countries have begun competing for these resources causing violence between countries. Air and water
pollution have been effects of the increased industrialization and population pressures of the 20th century.
Unregulated environmental policies in growing economies and the burning of coal and fuel for energy have
greatly increased the amount of pollutants in the environment. Deforestation has increased as more land has
been put under cultivation in the Green Revolution. Desertification has also occurred with the Green Revolution
and the Sahara Desert, among others, has continued to expand, putting additional pressure on arable land and
fresh water sources. Finally, with population pressure, increased industrialization and environmental
degradation, more species have become extinct over the past 100 years. GMOs of the Green Revolution had
decreased biodiversity and many animals have been hunted or bred out of extinction.
B. The release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the atmosphere contributed to debates about the
nature and causes of climate change.
