ABSTRACT

This second edition has been thoroughly updated and includes discussions on 9/11 and the second Gulf War, and takes into account the latest historical research.

A comprehensive survey of the key events and personalities of this period throughout the world, it includes discussion on topics such as:

  • the rivalry between European nations from 1900–1914
  • the Depression and the rise of Fascism during the 1920s and 1930s
  • the global impact of the Cold War
  • decolonization and its effects 
  • the continuing conflict in the Middle East.

A History of the World provides a fascinating and authoritative account of the world since 1900, for general readers and students of world history alike.

part 1|2 pages

Part I SOCIAL CHANGE AND NATIONAL RIVALRY IN EUROPE, 1900–14

part 2|2 pages

Part II BEYOND EUROPE: THE SHIFTING BALANCE OF GLOBAL POWER

chapter 5|8 pages

THE EMERGENCE OF THE US AS A WORLD POWER

chapter 6|7 pages

CHINA IN DISINTEGRATION, 1900–29

chapter 7|7 pages

THE EMERGENCE OF JAPAN, 1900–29

part 3|2 pages

Part III THE GREAT WAR, REVOLUTION AND THE SEARCH FOR STABILITY

chapter 9|9 pages

WAR AND REVOLUTION IN THE EAST, 1917

chapter 11|13 pages

PEACEMAKING IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD, 1918–23

chapter 12|6 pages

Democracy on trial: Weimar Germany

chapter 13|10 pages

BRITAIN, FRANCE AND THE US FROM WAR TO PEACE

chapter 14|8 pages

ITALY AND THE RISE OF FASCISM

part |2 pages

Part IV THE CONTINUING WORLD CRISIS, 1929–39

part 5|2 pages

Part V THE SECOND WORLD WAR

part 6|2 pages

Part VI POST-WAR EUROPE, 1945–7

chapter 26|10 pages

Zero hour: the Allies and the Germans

chapter 29|7 pages

France: a veil over the past

chapter 30|6 pages

Italy: the enemy forgiven

part |2 pages

Part VII THE UNITED STATES AND THE BEGINNING OF THE COLD WAR, 1945–8

chapter 31|16 pages

The United States: a reluctant world power

chapter 32|8 pages

1948: crisis in Europe – Prague and

part |2 pages

Part VIII THE TRANSFORMATION OF ASIA, 1945–55

part 9|2 pages

Part IX THE ENDING OF EUROPEAN DOMINANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, 1919–80

chapter 37|5 pages

A profile of the Middle East

chapter 39|7 pages

BRITAIN, ISRAEL AND THE ARABS, 1945–9

chapter 40|15 pages

1956: crisis in the Middle East – Suez

part 10|2 pages

Part X THE COLD WAR: SUPERPOWER CONFRONTATION, 1948–64

part 11|2 pages

Part XI THE RECOVERY OF WESTERN EUROPE IN THE 1950s AND 1960s

part 12|2 pages

Part XII WHO WILL LIBERATE THE THIRD WORLD? 1954–68

chapter 51|10 pages

AMERICA’S MISSION IN THE WORLD

chapter 52|10 pages

ON THE BRINK OF A NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST

chapter 53|10 pages

The limits of power: the US during the 1960s

part |2 pages

Part XIII TWO FACES OF ASIA: AFTER 1949

part 14|2 pages

Part XIV LATIN AMERICA AFTER 1945: PROBLEMS UNRESOLVED

part 15|2 pages

Part XV AFRICA AFTER 1945: CONFLICT AND THE THREAT OF FAMINE

chapter 63|17 pages

THE END OF WHITE RULE IN WEST AFRICA

chapter 65|6 pages

WAR AND FAMINE IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

part 16|2 pages

Part XVI THE UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET BLOC AFTER 1963: THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION

part 17|2 pages

Part XVII WESTERN EUROPE GATHERS STRENGTH: AFTER 1968

chapter 74|10 pages

THE REVIVAL OF FRANCE

chapter 75|11 pages

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

part |2 pages

Part XVIII GLOBAL CHANGE: FROM THE 20th TO THE 21st CENTURY