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The 20th century was the 10th and last century of the 2nd millennium, marked by scientific advances, global conflicts, and cultural changes. It started with the British Empire as the world's most powerful nation and ended with the European Union and the United Nations as the main international organizations.
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- Jennifer Rosenberg
- The 1900s. This decade opened the century with some amazing scientific and technological feats: the first flight by the Wright brothers, Henry Ford's first Model-T, and Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
- The 1910s. This decade was dominated by the first "total war"—World War I. It also saw other huge changes during the Russian Revolution and the beginning of Prohibition in the United States.
- The 1920s. The Roaring '20s were a time of a booming stock market, speakeasies, short skirts, the Charleston, and jazz. The '20s also showed great strides in women's suffrage—women got the vote in 1920.
- The 1930s. The Great Depression hit the world hard in the 1930s. The Nazis took advantage of this situation and came to power in Germany, established their first concentration camp, and began a systematic persecution of Jews in Europe.
- 20th Century Timeline – 1899-1902: The Second Boer War. (See Main Article: The Great Rapprochement) The Second Boer War (1899-1902) was a costly victory for the British of Boer forces in South Africa.
- 1909: The Wright Brothers And The Airplane. (See Main Article: Wright Brothers, Wrong Story? Why Some Say Wilbur—Not Orville—Discovered Manned Flight) How did two brothers who never left home, were high-school dropouts, and made a living as bicycle mechanics figure out the secret of manned flight?
- 1912: Titanic. (See Main Article: The Titanic: Passengers, Crew, Sinking, and Survivors) The Titanic was a luxury vessel and the largest moveable man-made object of its time.
- 20th Century Timeline – 1914: World War One Begins. (See Main Article: World War 1: A Comprehensive Overview of the Great War) The reason for America to become involved in WW1 was Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare, which had already sunk several American merchant ships.
- World War I (1914-1918) World War I, spanning from 1914 to 1918, was the inaugural global conflict of the 20th century, leaving an indelible mark on world history.
- Russian Revolution (1917) The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, spearheaded by Vladimir Lenin, gave rise to the world’s first communist state, the Soviet Union.
- Great Depression (1929-1939) The Wall Street Crash of 1929, a pivotal event in financial history, precipitated the Great Depression, a global economic crisis lasting throughout the 1930s.
- World War II (1939-1945) World War II, spanning from 1939 to 1945, stands as a devastating global conflict that altered the course of history. With millions of lives lost, it reshaped the geopolitical landscape.
Learn about the major historical events that shaped the 20th century, such as the World Wars, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Space Race. Explore the causes, consequences, and impacts of these events on the world and its people.
A comprehensive list of major events, inventions, wars, and political changes that shaped the 20th century. The timeline covers the years from 1900 to 2000 and includes links to more detailed articles.
The 20th century was a period of major historical events, such as two world wars, a Cold War, and scientific and technological advances. Learn about the people, timelines, categories, and significant achievements of the 20th century.
