History The Past as you've Never Seen it Before

625,000 American soldiers died $2.1 billion The estimated cost 149
in the US Civil War. of the US Civil War.

THE BATTLE OF
GETTYSBURG

The most famous battle of the
Civil War was fought over three
days, from 1 to 3 July 1863,
around the small town of
Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.
The Confederates attacked,
confident they would win, but
the Union army did not give
way and eventually won.
The battle had the heaviest
casualties in the war. Four
months after the battle,
President Lincoln visited the
site and delivered a famous
speech known as the
Gettysburg Address. In it, he
said that the US was “dedicated
to the proposition that all men
are created equal”.

Heavy losses
An estimated 51,000 soldiers were
killed, wounded, or listed as missing

in the Battle of Gettysburg.

RECONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION
ENDED IN 1877,
The slow process of rebuilding AND MANY STATE
the economy of the south, left
in ruins after the war, is known GOVERNMENTS
as Reconstruction. Before
rejoining the US, each state of IMMEDIATELY REVERSED THE
the Confederacy had to agree
to amendments to the US NEW RIGHTS GIVEN TO
Constitution – the supreme law AFRICAN AMERICANS,
of the nation – that ended
slavery, granted citizenship to MAKING IT HARD FOR THEM
African Americans, and gave TO VOTE, GO TO SCHOOL,
the vote to all male citizens.
OR FIND PAID WORK.

AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTING IN
RICHMOND IN VIRGINIA, 1871

3 March, 1863 4 July, 1863 15 November, 1864 9 April, 1865 14 April, 1865
Assassination of Lincoln
First African- Vicksburg captured March to the Sea Lee surrenders to Grant President Lincoln was shot
American Union troops captured the The capture of Atlanta in The Confederate capital of while attending a play at
regiment Confederate fortress of Georgia by Union General Richmond, in Virginia, fell Ford’s Theatre in Washington,
The first official Vicksburg, on the Mississippi William T. Sherman in on 3 April. The Virginian DC. He died the next morning.
regiment of River, after a two-month September was a heavy blow Confederate army was A funeral train took 14 days
African-American siege. It was a major turning to the Confederates. Although exhausted. To avoid further to transport his body back for
soldiers, the 54th point in the war, coming a deep inside enemy territory, losses, Confederate General burial in his hometown of
Massachusetts day after the Union victory Sherman decided to march his Robert E. Lee surrendered to Springfield, in Illinois.
Infantry Regiment, at Gettysburg. The Union army all the way from Atlanta General Ulysses S. Grant at
was formed to fight now controlled the length to the coast at Savannah. He Appomattox Court House in MEMORIAL
in the Union army. of the Mississippi River, ordered his men to live off the Virginia. By May, all the TO PRESIDENT
dividing Louisiana, Texas, land and destroy farms and Confederate armies had
SERGEANT HENRY F. and Arkansas from the rest factories on their way. This stopped fighting. The war LINCOLN IN
STEWARD OF THE of the Confederate states, brutal “scorched earth” policy was finally over. WASHINGTON, DC
and cutting off supplies. inflicted lasting damage.
54TH MASSACHUSETTS
INFANTRY

150 the age of revolution LIFE IN THE OLD WEST Long-distance cattle drives
could last about three months.
Cattle ranching Sioux camp
Framework
In the 19th century, cattle ranching developed The largest Native American group living Up to 20 long poles were
on the Great Plains and became an important on the northern plains were the Sioux. used for the tepee framework.
type of farming in the American West. They lived a nomadic lifestyle, moving These were tied at the top,
Cowboys, who included European settlers, from place to place so that they could forming a cone shape.
Mexicans, and freed African American slaves, follow the migrating bison herds. The
worked on the ranches. They rounded up Sioux depended on the bison for food but
thousands of cattle, taking them to rail nothing was wasted. They used the hide for
towns ready for shipment. making clothes, blankets, and the covering
for their portable tepees, while bones and
horns were used for making tools and toys.

Setting camp
Women were responsible for
building and dismantling tepees
as well as preparing food and

making clothes and tools.

Hard work
Being on a cattle drive was hard, dusty work.
Cowboys often spent up to 15 hours a day working.

Frontier towns

Towns with simple wooden buildings and
unpaved streets sprang up all over the
rugged American West. Land was cheap
but life was not easy with the lack of
basic food supplies. Some frontier towns
were quickly abandoned. Others, such
as Dodge City in Kansas, thrived.

DODGE CITY IN 1878 Medicine man
The medicine man was an
Law and order important figure in Sioux life.
His chants and rituals protected
The American West the tribe from evil spirits.
was often a dangerous
place to live. Organized Life in the Old West
groups of bandits stole
cattle, held up railway In the 18th and 19th centuries, Native American tribes
trains, and looted inhabited the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River.
towns. The sheriffs But their way of life changed with the arrival of the
struggled to enforce first European settlers in the 1840s.
the law. They put up
“Wanted” posters, Known as Plains Indians, these Native Americans lived by hunting
offering rewards for the huge herds of bison that grazed the grasslands. By the end of the
help in tracking down 19th century, thousands of European settlers had taken over their
notorious criminals. hunting land for farming and cattle ranching. The settlers also built
towns and railways, and hunted the bison to extinction, leading to
WANTED POSTER bitter conflict between the two communities.

600,000 The estimated population of Native Americans in 151
1800. By 1900, the figure had dropped to 250,000.

Dried meat Painted designs Bison hide Smoke flaps
Thin strips of bison Some tepees were painted About 16 bison hides were sewn Smoke from the fire
meat were dried on with symbolic shapes and together to make the tepee cover. inside escaped through
racks in the sun to make sacred animals. Pins made from bone held the flaps that opened at
a long-lasting food hides together. the top of the tepee.
called pemmican.
Skilled horse riders
Sioux were excellent
horse riders. Many
rode bareback, hunting
bison at full gallop.

Making leather
To make bison leather, the women
stretched a hide, scraped it clean
with a bone tool, and then smoked
it over a fire to soften it.

Cradleboard Fire Wounded Knee massacre
Babies were kept safe in A small fire inside
a cradleboard (a lace-up leather the tepee was used In 1890, up to 200 Sioux were killed
bag on a wooden frame). It could both for cooking food or injured by US soldiers at Wounded
be strapped to the carer’s back and keeping the Knee Creek in South Dakota. The Sioux
tepee warm. belonged to the Ghost Dance religious
or hung from a saddle. movement that promised the return of
Native American culture, and many were GHOST DANCE SHIRT
13 million bison wearing Ghost Dance shirts. After the
massacre, the Sioux were forced to
roamed the Great Plains in 1840. accept life on reservations (small areas
By 1885, only 200 were left. of land put aside for them), making it
impossible for them to continue their
traditional, nomadic way of life.

152 the age of revolution THE AUTOMOBILE 16 km/h (10 mph) – the top speed
of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen.

The history of car design Timeline The automobile

At first, the automobile was a slow, 1908 Before the car, people travelled long distances
dangerous, and unreliable way to using horse-drawn carriages. But in 1888, the first
travel, but throughout the 20th century, petrol-powered, horseless vehicle went on sale to
it developed into a sophisticated, high- the public, kickstarting the age of the automobile.
performing machine. Today, safety and
environmental concerns have encouraged The automobile evolved little by little throughout the
car manufacturers to design driverless 19th century, with different engineers experimenting in
and electric-powered vehicles. workshops around the world. But it was Karl Benz from
Germany, helped by his wife Bertha, whose three-wheeled
Ford Model T design became the first automobile available for sale to the
The first car to be mass-produced, the Model T was public. Powered by an internal combustion engine, the Benz
cheap and quick to produce. For 12 years, every Patent-Motorwagen inspired fear and suspicion at first – it
vehicle sold was black, as this was the fastest drying was banned by the German government, and the Catholic
paint colour at the time. Church called it the “devil’s carriage”.

Volkswagen Beetle 1938 Spinning flywheel Cooling tank Padded seat
German dictator Adolf Hitler commissioned This horizontal, heavy Water stored in the cooling Without suspension
this reliable, family vehicle as a “people’s car” disc helped to keep the tank prevented the engine to aid the automobile’s
(or Volkswagen in German). Designed by Ferdinand engine running smoothly. from overheating. stability, it was a bumpy
Porsche, the five-seater could transport two adults ride for passengers.
and three children. In 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle
became the world’s best-selling car, overtaking the
Ford Model T’s previous record of 15,007,033
vehicles sold.

Willy’s Jeep 1940 Internal combustion engine
World War II prompted The automobile’s engine worked
manufacturers to design 1959 in a similar way to petrol-powered
the Jeep, a tough, car engines today. It burned fuel
four-wheel drive car that 1997 inside a cylinder to produce gases Carriage wheels
could cope on all sorts of that pushed tiny pistons up and The steel-lined rear
terrain. This military down. These pistons in turn wheels were large, like
vehicle was light and pushed a crankshaft that made those of a traditional
sturdy enough to be the rear wheels rotate. horse-drawn carriage.
dropped by parachute
from a helicopter. Historic journey

MINI Karl Benz invented the first
As cars became cheaper, automobile, but it was his wife
the world’s roads clogged up Bertha who made it a commercial
with traffic. Manufacturers success. In 1888, she secretly took
started building smaller the car and drove her two sons from
vehicles for towns and Mannheim to Pforzheim in Germany.
cities, with the MINI Although the car broke down
becoming a British icon. several times, Bertha fixed each
issue, successfully completing the
Toyota Prius 106-km (66-mile) journey. News of
One of the first hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius was the achievement hit the press and
powered by both a petrol engine and an electric sales of the Motorwagen took off.
motor, helping to reduce its toxic emissions.

1891 The year the first car accident 1896 The year the first speeding ticket 153
took place, in Ohio in the US. was given to a reckless driver.

SIDE VIEW Mass production

Brake lever In 1913, American businessman Henry Ford
A hand lever was used to introduced a new moving assembly line at
slow the vehicle. his car factory. He separated production
of the car, the Model T or “Tin Lizzie”, into
Viewing point different stages, with specialized workers
Like a horse-drawn carriage, adding parts to every vehicle as it rolled
Benz’s automobile had a high along a mechanized moving belt. Ford’s
seat to allow good visibility. moving assembly line sped up car
manufacturing, making cars increasingly
Steering lever affordable for the public. By the 1920s,
Instead of a steering car manufacturers around the world were
wheel, the driver changed producing vehicles in the same way.
direction using an upright
lever called a tiller. Moving assembly line
Between 1908 and 1927 the Ford Motor
Hollow frame Company built more than 15 million Model Ts.
The Motorwagen Every 10 seconds a newly finished car rolled
had a tube-shaped, off the assembly line, ready to drive.
steel framework.
Racing cars

The dawn of the 20th century saw a huge
rise in the popularity of cars. In order to win
sales, manufacturers competed with one
another to produce the fastest and most
powerful car, shown off in the new sport of
motor racing. The first official race was held
in France in 1895. Since then the sport of
motor racing has flourished, from the
extreme speeds of Formula 1 to the Le Mans
24-hour race, a yearly endurance test.

Bicycle tyre Paris-Bordeaux-Paris
The thin-spoked, rubber-lined In 1895, French engineer Emile Levassor crossed
front wheel was based on the the finish line of the world’s first automobile race.
He completed the 1,180-km (732-mile) route
design of a bicycle wheel. from Paris to Bordeaux and back again driving at
an average speed of 25 km/h (15 mph).

US immigration

In the 19th century, millions of
people left their homes to travel
to the US, fleeing natural disasters,
religious persecution, and poverty
in Asia and Europe.

For those seeking refuge and work, the
US was seen as a land of opportunity.
People arrived by boat from Asia into San
Francisco and from Europe into New York.
By the early 1900s, the immigration
centre at Ellis Island in Upper New York
Bay was the country’s busiest entry point,
processing an estimated 5,000 individuals
a day. Some stayed in New York, but many
chose to travel further inland, to Chicago,
the Midwest, or all the way to California.

1845–1849 1881–1924
In Ireland, a fungus More than two million
destroyed the country’s Jews from Russia,
potato crops, causing Austria-Hungary, and
widespread famine. To Romania arrived in the
avoid starvation, 500,000 US, fleeing poverty,
people travelled to the US. violence, and racism.

1892 1900–1910
Ellis Island Immigrant As sea travel became
Station opened as a US more affordable, more
than two million
point of entry from Italians moved to
Europe. It became the the US to escape
centre of immigration poverty at home.

into the country. April 1907
The Port of New York
February 1907 had the busiest month
Japan agreed to restrict in its history, receiving
its people from leaving 197 ships carrying
more than 250,000
to settle in the US, passengers in total.
amid fears in California
1920s
that Japanese arrivals Public opinion turned
were taking jobs from against immigration,
as newcomers were
US workers. blamed for high
unemployment and
1910–1940 a lack of housing.
A million immigrants,

including Chinese,
Japanese, Indians, and
Mexicans, were processed
on Angel Island in the

San Francisco Bay.

1924
To control the number of
arrivals, a law was passed

that required people to
register overseas before
they travelled to the US.

Gateway to America
When immigrants arrived, they were
examined by doctors looking for signs of
physical illness or mental health problems. In
this photograph from 1907, immigrants wait
in “pens”, having passed the first inspection.



156 the age of revolution AGE OF EMPIRES 193 km (120 miles) – The length
of the Suez Canal.

European possessions in Africa

Britain SPANISH
MOROCCO
France
FRENCH
Germany RIO DE ORO MOROCCO TUNIS
Belgium
FRENCH
Portugal WEST AFRICA ALGERIA

Italy LIBYA
FRENCH
Spain
EQUATORIAL
Independent The Benin Expedition AFRICA
In 1897, in Benin in West Africa, a
GAMBIA group of British officers was ambushed
PORTUGUESE and killed. Two months later, British
GUINEA forces captured Benin and stole its
bronze treasures as punishment.

SIERRA NIGERIA CAMEROON
LEONE TOGO

LIBERIA GOLD COAST RIO MUNI

GABON

Age of empires The War of the Golden Stool CABINDA
In 1900, the British governor
During the 19th century, the desire for wealth, of Ghana demanded that the ANGOLA
land, and resources led European nations to seek Ashanti tribe give him their GERMAN
power and influence far beyond their borders. golden stool, a throne considered SOUTHWEST
by the Ashanti to be sacred. AFRICA
A wave of colonization took place, in which wealthy, They refused, and war broke out.
powerful European countries invaded and ruled over Although the British won and
territories outside Europe. Britain, France, Germany, increased their control in Ghana,
Belgium, Portugal, Italy, and Spain divided the continent of the Ashanti successfully guarded
Africa between them, claiming large areas of land and taking the golden stool.
political and economic control. Of all the European powers,
Britain built the largest empire, acquiring the most territory,
including India, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies.

The British Raj The “unequal treaties” Rubber
plantation
British rule in India, known as the “British After China lost the Opium Wars (1839–1842 and Before crates
Raj”, lasted from 1858 to 1947. India was 1856–1860), France and Britain made China sign of rubber
described as the “jewel in the crown” of the a series of agreements, later called the “unequal were exported
British Empire. The British treaties”. These treaties forced China to give up abroad, they
introduced democracy and control of its ports and give away large areas of were checked
railways to India, but they territory to other nations. by colonial
exploited the country overseers.
economically and denied CANTON (MODERN-DAY GUANGZHOU), A TREATY PORT
local rulers and people a Southeast Asia
share in resources, crops,
and political power. In Europe, the Industrial Revolution increased
demand for rubber, oil, and tin, all of which
British train Southeast Asia could supply. Seeking access
This British-built train to these resources, the British took control
still carries passengers on on the Malay Peninsula and across Myanmar,
the Darjeeling Himalayan and the French took over Vietnam, Cambodia,
and French Indochina (modern-day Laos).
Railway today.

10 million The estimated number of Congolese people The only two African countries to remain independent were 157
killed under King Leopold II of Belgium. Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) and Liberia.

EGYPT Suez Canal
Opened in 1869, the French-
Belgian Congo designed Suez Canal linked the
King Leopold II of Belgium made the Mediterranean Sea and the Red
Congo his personal possession from Sea. This impressive feat of
1885 to 1908. It was the largest private engineering dramatically cut
estate ever possessed by a single journey times from Asia to
person. A brutal leader, he was Europe, as ships no longer had
responsible for millions of deaths, and to sail around Africa.
stripped the country of its natural
resources, including elephant ivory. Abyssinian victory
In 1896, an Abyssinian army
ANGLO-EGYPTIAN led by Emperor Menelik II
SUDAN defeated an invading Italian
force, successfully defending
BELGIAN CONGO its independence.

FRENCH
SOMALILAND

BRITISH
SOMALILAND

ABYSSINIA SOITMAALLIAILNAND
BRITISH
EAST AFRICA European exploration
GERMAN Explorers set out to discover
EAST AFRICA and map new lands. They
were often sponsored by
governments eager for
territorial expansion. It was
a dangerous occupation and
many paid with their lives.

RHODESIA

MOZAMBIQUE MADAGASCAR

BECHUANALAND The Boer Wars
The Boers were descendants of
ORANGE the original white Dutch settlers
FREE in southern Africa. Between
STATE 1889 and 1902, the Boer states
of the Republic of Transvaal
and the Orange Free State
fought to end British control of
South Africa and its gold mines.

UNION OF The Anglo-Zulu War Scramble for Africa
SOUTH AFRICA In 1879, the British fought a war with
the Zulu Kingdom in southeast Africa. By the late 19th century, many
The British suffered a humiliating defeat European nations were competing
in the Battle of Isandlwana in January, for control of Africa. Between 1882
but defeated the Zulu Kingdom in July and 1899, Britain seized Egypt,
and turned it into a colony. Nigeria, Kenya, the Sudan, and
Diamond mining Rhodesia, and established
In 1867, diamonds were discovered in possession of South Africa. From
South Africa. Mining these diamonds made 1884 to 1885, parts of East and
British businessman Cecil Rhodes one of West Africa were acquired by
the world’s richest men, but the black Germany. In 1885, King Leopold II
labourers working underground in the of Belgium took over the Congo.
mines were exploited and underpaid.

158 the age of revolution EARLY FLIGHT $1,000 The amount it cost to build
the first Wright Flyer.

Early flight The Wright brothers’ first flight Rudder
A rudder set behind
Humans have yearned to fly for thousands of years, The 1903 Wright Flyer took off from
but it wasn’t until 1903, when the Wright brothers’ Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in the US. the wings yawed
engine-powered aircraft 1903 Wright Flyer took to the Orville Wright piloted the plane lying (turned) the aircraft
skies, that the dream of human flight became a reality. down, steering it with movements of
his hips. The 1903 Wright Flyer was right and left.
The invention of lightweight engines in the late 19th century heavier than air, but the engine and
made powered flight possible, leading the Wright brothers to propellers drove the plane forwards to
try out new flying designs. They tried for years to get a plane stop it from crashing back to the ground.
in the air, and keep it there. In December 1903, they tossed
a coin to see who would pilot their latest design. The older Propeller
brother Wilbur won, but that first test was unsuccessful. Two 2.4-m (8-ft) wooden
In a later trial on 17 December, Orville Wright piloted their
aircraft for 12 seconds, just skimming above the sands of propellers powered by
the North Carolina coast for a distance of 37 m (121 ft). the engine drove the
This short flight changed history. plane forwards.

Lightweight structure Support wires First flights
The body of the plane Strong metal wires helped the
wooden structure of the plane Efforts to fly date back as far as 1000 bce
was made of wood, to keep its shape. when the Chinese strapped people to huge
covered with finely kites, but the first flight carrying a person
woven cotton cloth. Wings that wasn’t tied to something on the ground
The aircraft had a didn’t take place until the late 18th century.
Outer wing wingspan of 12.3 m
The pilot pulled on wires (40 ft 4 ins). Early attempts at flight
connected to the outer wing to roll Taking to the skies was an
(move the left wing down and extremely risky business. Over
the right wing up, or vice versa). the centuries, in attempts to
copy the flight of birds, people
strapped “wings” made of
wood or feathers to their
arms. They then launched
themselves off high structures,
often with disastrous results.

Water stored in a tank next to the pilot Later on in the day of its first flight, 159
kept the Flyer’s engine from overheating. the Flyer was damaged beyond repair.

Powering the propellers
A bicycle chain
connected the engine
to the propellers so
that it could turn them.

Engine Elevator control
A home-made petrol engine The pilot controlled the plane’s
powered the two propellers pitch (up and down movement)
mounted behind the wings, with a lever connected by a
driving the plane forwards. pulley system to the elevators.

Pilot controls Elevators
To steer the plane Orville Wright lay Moveable horizontal
surfaces called elevators
flat in a cradle and moved his hips angled the aircraft nose
from side to side to pull on wires up and down.

connected to the wing tips and rudder.

First balloon THE MONTGOLFIER EARLY DIRIGIBLE The Flying Man
Two paper-makers from BROTHERS’ BALLOON German aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal made
France, the Montgolfier Dirigible more than 2,000 flights in gliders in the late 19th
brothers, noted that Many inventors sought ways to steer “lighter than century, taking off from the top of an artificial hill
heated air flowing into air” vehicles. In the 19th century, French engineer he had built especially for the purpose near Berlin.
a paper bag made the Jules Henri Giffard built a “dirigible”, a type of His gliders had no tail and were little more than
bag rise. In 1783, they airship; a canvas bag that was 44 m (143 ft) long a pair of wings, controlled by the movements he
demonstrated this and could hold 3,200 cubic metres (113,000 cubic made with his body. A hero of the Wright brothers,
with a sensational feet) of the gas hydrogen, which is lighter than air. Lilienthal became known as “the Flying Man”.
hot-air balloon flight In 1852, steered by a pilot and powered by an He died in 1896, from injuries he suffered when
carrying a sheep, a engine, Giffard’s airship proved that controlled one of his creations crashed to the ground.
duck, and a rooster as flight was possible.
passengers. The first OTTO IN
manned flight took FLIGHT
place later that year
with Jean-Francois
Pilatre de Rozier and
François Laurent
d’Arlandes on board.



THE MODERN WORLD

From the beginning of the 20th century, innovations in travel and
communications connected humans across the world like never
before. Conflicts became global, with many nations involved in
wars far away. But in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, this
connection has also given people new opportunities, allowing
ideas of freedom and equality to spread around the world.

162 the modern world TIMELINE OF THE MODERN WORLD

1961: The Berlin Wall 1960S ELECTRIC 1969: Woodstock LOCKHEED F-117A
The East German government GUITAR At the end of the 1960s, a NIGHTHAWK
decade of change in music and
built a barrier to prevent fashion, the Woodstock Music STEALTH BOMBER
people escaping and Art Fair took place in the
US. Half a million people turned 1990–1991: The Gulf War
Soviet-controlled East up to listen to the most famous Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded the
Germany for democratic musicians of the day. oil-rich nation of Kuwait. Allied forces,
West Berlin. The wall was led by the US, attacked the Iraqis in
torn down in 1989. “Operation Desert Storm”.

WATCHTOWER ALONG
THE BERLIN WALL

1960: The Year of Africa 1955: The bus boycott REPLICA MONTGOMERY BUS
The process of decolonization in In Montgomery in the US, Rosa
Africa reached its peak in 1960, Parks, an African American woman,
when 17 countries, including 14 refused to give up her bus seat to a
white passenger, inspiring a boycott
former French colonies, declared
their independence. of the city’s buses to protest
against the separation of black and

white people on public transport.

Timeline of the 1942: The Final Solution
modern world German dictator Adolf Hitler
finalized plans to murder the Jewish
World War I, and later World War II, brought population of Europe. Millions of
many nations into global conflict. Millions of people were forced into concentration
people from all over the world, both soldiers camps where they lived in terrible
and civilians, were killed. conditions until they were killed.

In the 1920s, people tried to forget the horrors of World STAR OF DAVID
War I. New music and dances became popular, and cinema IDENTIFICATION BADGE
developed into a form of entertainment. But the next decade
was hard for many, as the world economy crashed and dictators USS ENTERPRISE CV-6
began to take power in Europe, leading to another global war. In
the aftermath of World War II, weakened empires lost control of 1941: The US
their overseas territories. The US and the Soviet Union emerged enters the war
as rival superpowers, struggling for dominance by involving Until 1941, the US refused
themselves in regional wars. Yet the end of the war also brought new to take sides, but when Japanese
optimism and freedoms, with young people creating new ways to forces attacked Pearl Harbor, a naval base in
express themselves through fashion and music. In the 21st century, Hawaii, the US responded by declaring war.
thanks to advances in communication technology, there is a greater Germany then declared war on the US.
awareness of the discrimination faced by many people in their daily For Britain, the US was a welcome ally.
lives, as well as the damage humans have caused to the environment.

1914: World War I WORLD WAR I A HAMMER AND 1920s: The Jazz Age
After Austria-Hungary BRITISH TANK SICKLE, A SYMBOL OF After the hardships of World
invaded Serbia, other SOVIET COMMUNISM War I, the US enjoyed a period
countries joined in, and the of optimism, as people sought
war became global. Millions 1917: The Russian Revolution fun and frivolity. Jazz music
were killed as new inventions, For 300 years the Romanov family became very popular, along
such as tanks and poison gas, made had controlled Russia, but they were with exciting new dances.
conflict deadlier than ever before. overthrown by a communist revolution
that established the Soviet Union. 1920s SAXOPHONE

NELSON MANDELA 2001: The War on Terror 163
ON A SOUTH AFRICAN On 11 September, 2001, the Islamic
BANKNOTE 2014: Pepper the robot
terrorist group Al-Qaeda carried SoftBank Robotics revealed their
1994: President Nelson Mandela out attacks in New York and new robot, Pepper. The robot can
Nelson Mandela became the first black recognize faces, and can analyse
president of South Africa, ending decades Washington, D.C. The US declared a a person’s expressions and tone
of Apartheid – a system of discrimination “war on terror”, launching wars in of voice to detect emotion.
against black people within the country.
Afghanistan and later Iraq. PEPPER

US CHINOOK CH-47 1949: The People’s
Republic of China
1955–1973: The Vietnam War
War erupted between North and South Vietnam. The US Chinese communist leader Mao
entered the war in 1965 on the side of South Vietnam, Zedong proclaimed the communist
while the Soviet Union and China supported the North.
People protested worldwide about US involvement. People’s Republic of China.
Mao led the country as chairman

until his death in 1976.

“FAT MAN” 1945: End of World War II 1947: The Partition of India BOOK OF QUOTATIONS FROM
ATOMIC BOMB After five years of brutal fighting, At its independence India was CHAIRMAN MAO ZEDONG
World War II ended when the US divided in two: a Muslim-majority
dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. Pakistan and a Hindu-majority 1948: Creation of Israel
Tens of thousands of people were India. Millions of people found After the horrors faced by Jews
killed instantly, and Japan themselves on the wrong side
surrendered shortly afterwards. during World War II, a Jewish
of the new borders. homeland was created in Palestine in
the Middle East. The Palestinian Arabs
were angry at the arrival of millions
of Jews and years of conflict followed.

1939: World War II begins SPANISH MAUSER 1893 RIFLE
Adolf Hitler invaded Poland, prompting
1936–1939: The Spanish Civil War 1934–1945: Adolf Hitler
Britain and France to declare war on Spanish General Francisco Franco led In Germany, Adolf Hitler
Germany. Hitler quickly conquered his forces to victory in the Spanish became Führer (leader).
much of Europe, including France, Civil War. He became the military He persecuted Jews
although Britain remained an obstacle dictator of Spain, and went on to rule across Europe and his
the country for the next 40 years. ambitions led to the
to his domination. outbreak of World War II.

1927: The “Talkies” 1929: The Wall Street Crash ROOSEVELT
The first feature film to After the optimism of the 1920s, MEMORIAL TO THE
include sound, The Jazz the US economy crashed, causing GREAT DEPRESSION
Singer marked a new era in the Great Depression. The effects
CLAPPER BOARD cinema. Clapper boards were
used to synchronize the were felt around the world.
action in a scene with In 1933, President Franklin D.
separately recorded sound. Roosevelt introduced his New Deal
to help the US economy recover.

164 the modern world WORLD WAR I 65 million soldiers fought
in World War I.

World War I RECRUITMENT

In July 1914, war broke out in Europe. As countries When war broke out, each country
rushed to support their allies, they were drawn into a involved had a national army, but
fight that soon escalated into a global war that is now few were ready for such a long,
known as World War I. drawn-out war. Armies needed more
soldiers, and lots of them. Many
The Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey – civilians were conscripted – forced
battled against the Entente Powers (who later became known as to join the armed forces by law.
the Allies) – Britain, France, and Russia, joined by Italy in 1915 Others volunteered to fight, driven
and the US in 1917. Equally matched, each side tried to grind by a sense of national duty. All
down the other, inflicting high numbers of casualties using huge, governments used inspiring posters
unprecedented amounts of firepower. Most of the fighting took to create support for the war.
place in trenches dug by the armies, as each side fought to gain
and defend territory from their enemy. Poster campaign
This French poster is encouraging people

to raise money for the war effort.

LEAD UP TO THE WAR “The lamps are SUBMARINE WARFARE
going out all
At the start of the 20th century, European over Europe.” From 1915, German U-boats (short for
countries grew increasingly hostile towards each “Unterseeboot”, meaning “submarine boat”)
other. Germany had only become a unified nation Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign took the war underwater. They attacked
in 1871, but its ruler, Kaiser Wilhelm II, began Secretary, 1914 unarmed merchant ships carrying supplies,
building up its navy, kickstarting an arms race with including food, to Britain – almost starving
Britain. With the aim of supporting each other if A continent at war the country into submission by 1917.
conflict did arise, France and Russia joined together Eventually the war was fought on three Germany’s new naval tactics horrified the
in a military alliance against their rivals Germany fronts in Europe – the Western Front, world. Submarine warfare was seen as
and Austria–Hungary. Britain drew close to France the Eastern Front, and the Balkan Front. uncivilized and against the rules of combat
and Russia as one of the Entente Powers. Only a that had been followed in the past.
spark was needed to start a war.

Key SWEDEN
The Allies
Central Powers BRITAIN EAST RUSSIAN
Neutral countries PRUSSIA EMPIRE

NETHERLANDS Eastern Front

BELGIUM GERMANY

LUXEMBOURG

Western Front

FRANCE AUSTRIA-
HUNGARY
SWITZERLAND

PORTUGAL I TAL ROMANIA

SPAIN SERBIA

MONTENEGRO BULGARIA

Y OTTOMAN EMPIRE

ALBANIA German U-boat
Throughout the war, German U-boats sank 5,554
Balkan Front Allied merchant ships and warships. Conditions
onboard the U-boats were hot and cramped.
GREECE

Timeline June 1914 July 1914 October–November 1914 February 1915–January 1916

A global war Franz Ferdinand assassinated Declarations of war Battle of Ypres Gallipoli campaign
Archduke Franz Ferdinand – heir to When Austria-Hungary After Germany invaded British, French, Australian, and
When war broke out in July the Austria-Hungary Empire – and his declared war on Serbia, Belgium intending to deliver New Zealand troops launched an
1914, the Central Powers and wife were shot in Sarajevo in Bosnia. it was given support by its a decisive blow to the attack on the Gallipoli Peninsula
the Allies thought it would be The killer belonged to a Serbian ally Germany. Russia French military, they in Turkey, aiming to take control
finished by Christmas. But revolutionary group. Austria-Hungary backed Serbia and encountered French and of the country. The attack failed
World War I was to become blamed Serbia for the killing. declared war on Austria- British forces in Flanders. – about 58,000 Allied soldiers
the most brutal and destructive Hungary, leading Germany A series of battles, known were killed.
conflict the world had ever to declare war on Russia as the Battle of Ypres, were
seen, lasting for four years and on Russia’s ally fought close to the northern
and resulting in the deaths of France. When Germany coast. The fighting was
millions of soldiers and civilians. invaded neutral Belgium savage, but the battle
on its way to attack ended in stalemate.
France, Britain declared
war on Germany.

235 Allied spies were found guilty 4.5 million artillery shells were fired during 165
of espionage by the Germans. the Battle of Passchendaele.

NEW TECHNOLOGY

The invention of new technologies made World War I
more deadly than any war previously fought. Each country
worked to improve their fighting methods, developing new
tools and techniques to gain an advantage over their enemy.
For the first time, soldiers in war had to contend with powerful
weaponry such as machine guns, poison gas, flamethrowers,
and explosive mines, as well as tanks and aircraft.

War in the skies
As technology developed,
planes became sturdier.
They were used to carry out
reconnaissance, drop bombs,
and fight battles in the skies,
with brave pilots called
“aces” becoming heroes.

Machine gun Fearsome tanks
This Schwarzlose machine gun First invented in Britain,
automatically reloaded after firing, tanks could travel over
allowing soldiers to shoot rapidly. rough, muddy terrain,
It was one of the main weapons of acting as a shield for Allied
the Austro-Hungarian army. soldiers as they advanced.
They were used for the
SECRET WAR THE HOME FRONT first time in 1916 at
the Battle of the Somme.
Both sides used espionage, or spying, to gain secret World War I had a huge impact on
information about the enemy. Spies listened in on their civilians, particularly in Belgium and 28 June 1919
enemy’s communications, and code breakers tried to France, where a lot of the fighting Treaty of Versailles
crack the codes that were used to send secret messages took place on the Western Front. The German government signed a
The effects of war were felt not just peace treaty at Versailles in
via telegraph and radio. Male and female secret on the battlefield but also at home. France, but its terms were very
agents worked in disguise in enemy territory On this “Home Front”, many civilians unpopular among Germans. The
to find out as much information as possible, faced food shortages and rationing, treaty stated that Germany and its
but many were caught and imprisoned. and as millions of men went off to allies were to blame for the war
fight, women took over their jobs. and had to pay compensation.
Pigeon with message canister By the end of the war, millions of
A secret message could be civilians had lost their lives.
delivered to and from the
Zeppelin over London
battlefield by inserting it into Zeppelins were huge, slow-moving
a canister, then attaching German airships. Some flew in the skies
the canister to the leg
of a carrier pigeon. over London, dropping bombs on
shocked and terrified citizens.

May 1915 1916 July–November 1917 November 1918

Sinking of the Lusitania Battle of Jutland Battle of Passchendaele Fighting ends
A German submarine sank the In the only full-scale naval battle of The Allies, who sought to After losing a series of battles
passenger liner Lusitania, drowning the war, German and British navies destroy German submarine in 1918, Germany signed an
US civilians. German submarine fought each other off the Jutland bases on the Belgian coast, armistice (truce) with the Allies,
attacks eventually led the US to join peninsula in Denmark. Both sides attacked German forces agreeing to end the fighting on
the war on the Allied side in 1917. claimed victory, but Germany near Ypres. But torrential the 11th hour of the 11th
decided not to fight at sea again. rain turned the clay-soil day of the 11th month.
battlefield into a muddy
Battle of the Somme swamp, with tanks, troops,
Fought in northern France near the and horses becoming stuck.
River Somme, more than a million The Allies gained just 8 km
soldiers were killed or wounded in (5 miles) of territory,
this four-month long battle. The Allies with more than 475,000
were unable to push through German casualties on both sides.
lines and ended the attack after
heavy snow made fighting difficult.

166 the modern world THE WESTERN FRONT 100,000 The number of carrier pigeons used by Allied
forces to deliver messages during the war.

Pillbox
Raised, concrete shelters

allowed soldiers to fire
machine guns at the enemy

from a protected position.

Gas attack
Poison gas was
used for the first time
during World War I by
both sides. Soldiers used
gas masks to protect their
eyes, noses, and throats
from lethal fumes.

Sandbag
reinforcement
Sandbags filled with
earth prevented the
walls of the trenches
from falling in.

Sentry duty
Keeping watch on the enemy
was dangerous – soldiers on
sentry duty stood on a ledge

and peered over the top of
the trench to see.

Sniper attack
At night, hidden shooters called

snipers prepared to launch
attacks at dawn, by getting into

position behind trees close to
the enemy’s trench.

“What a bloodbath… Raiding party Underground war
hell cannot be this Soldiers crawled on their Both sides tried to place
bellies towards the enemy
dreadful” explosives into enemy
in surprise attacks. trenches by tunnelling deep
Albert Joubaire, French soldier
at Verdun, in his diary, 1916 under no-man’s land.

Battlefield nurses Barbed wire
No-man’s land was criss-
Women drove ambulances and
worked as nurses on the Western crossed with barbed
Front, helping soldiers injured in wire and traps to slow
battle. These battlefield nurses
treated many types of wound, down enemy attacks.
including poison gas burns,
shrapnel injuries, and infections. No-man’s land at night

Christmas truce The German and Allied soldiers fought
over an area between their trenches
On Christmas Day 1914, some soldiers from known as “no-man’s land”. Much of the
both sides called a ceasefire along parts of the action took place at night under the cover
Western Front. They crossed no-man’s land to of darkness, as this was the safest time for
sing carols, exchange gifts, and play football. soldiers to surprise the enemy, recover
The army generals were angry when they heard casualties, and repair trench defences.
what had happened and tried to prevent this
type of truce happening again.

32,200 km (20,000 miles) of trenches had been 11 a.m. The time the armistice ending World War I 167
dug by the end of World War I. came into effect on 11 November, 1918.

Casualties Bright light The Western Front
Soldiers killed in action would Flares were used to
often lie in no-man’s land light up the enemy’s By Christmas 1914, World War I had reached a
for days until it was safe for stalemate. The German advance across western
their bodies to be collected. trench at night. Europe had been stopped by Allied troops. Both sides
dug in, building a zig-zagged line of deep trenches
Over the top which became known as the Western Front.
Soldiers used ladders
The Western Front stretched 645 km (400 miles) from
to climb out of the the coast of Belgium to the border of Switzerland. Over the
trench and advance next few years, the two sides fought with bullets, shells, and
across no-man’s land. poison gas to capture just a few kilometres of territory from
their enemy. Soldiers lived in constant fear of attack and
suffered tough conditions in the trenches, which were
cold, wet, and full of rats.

Support trench
A second trench behind the
front trench provided another
line of defence support.

Duckboards Soldiers’ shelter Field telephone
Trenches were wet and Soldiers took shelter Telephones were used to
muddy, so these wooden and rested in holes
planks were laid to help cut into the side of relay orders along the
keep soldiers’ feet dry. the trench wall. Western Front. Dogs and
carrier pigeons were also
used to transport messages.

Officers’ dugout
An officers’ shelter deep
underground offered
some comfort, and plans
were made there for
future advances.



The Russian
Revolution

By the start of the 20th century,
the Romanov family had ruled
over Russia for 300 years, but
after years of war and famine, the
people began to demand change.

Nicholas II, the ruling tsar (emperor),
was slow to react to calls for reform,
which were led by the Bolsheviks – a
communist political party that argued
resources should be shared equally
among the people. His poor handling
of wars with Japan and Germany
fuelled unrest, and in 1917 two
dramatic revolutions took place,
eventually transforming Russia from
a monarchy into the world’s first
communist state – the Soviet Union.

1905 1914–1918
Russia’s humiliating During World War I,
defeat in the Russo- Russia suffered
Japanese War led to catastrophic losses
strikes and protests fighting against
Germany. Again, Tsar
against the rule of Nicholas II was blamed.
Tsar Nicholas II who
October 1917
was blamed. The Bolsheviks seized
power from the provisional
March 1917 government, which had
After a series of been in power since March.
public protests about In July 1918, Nicholas II
food shortages and was arrested and executed.
poor living conditions,
Tsar Nicholas II 1918
abdicated (renounced The Bolsheviks became
known as the Russian
the throne). Communist Party. They
signed a peace treaty
1917–1922 with Germany, taking
Civil war between the Russia out of World War I.

Bolsheviks and anti- From 1924
communist forces ended Soviet politician
Joseph Stalin took
in a Bolshevik victory, power. He used
allowing the party to violence to eliminate
consolidate its power. his opponents and
military force to occupy
30 December, 1922 European countries.
The Russian

Communist Party
founded the Soviet
Union (USSR) – the

world’s first
communist state.

Revolutionary leader
Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) was the
founder and leader of the Bolsheviks. He
was a passionate public speaker and made
stirring speeches to crowds of workers,
soldiers, and peasants, urging them to
support the ideals of the revolution.

170 the modern world BOOM AND BUST IN THE US 1927 The year The Jazz Singer, the first movie
with sound, appeared in US cinemas.

THE ROARING TWENTIES Boom and bust
in the US
In the 1920s, fun, fashion, and entertainment became the order
of the day. Young women known as “Flappers” outraged the older After World War I ended in 1918, many Americans
generations with their short skirts, bobbed hairstyles, and rebellious greeted the 1920s with a sense of optimism. The
behaviour. Although the US government banned alcohol between economy grew, and people had more money to spend
1920 and 1933, illicit bars known as “speakeasies” emerged, where on luxury items and entertainment. But the good times
young people could socialize and enjoy new dances such as the didn’t last. At the end of the decade, the economy
twisting Charleston. Jazz – a new African-American music style – collapsed, leaving many Americans in poverty.
became so popular that the decade became known as the “Jazz Age”.

At the start of the 1920s, the US was quick to recover from the
war’s drain on its resources, and experienced a “boom” period
of economic growth. Factories switched from producing goods
intended for the war effort to making consumer items, such as
household appliances and cars. Newspapers and magazines
were full of adverts for these new goods, selling the public a
glamorous lifestyle. The misery of the war made its survivors
determined to have a good time, and they flocked to sporting
events, dance clubs, and the cinema. But between 24 and
29 October, 1929, the party came to an abrupt end when the
economy went “bust”. The next decade brought with it the Great
Depression – a period of mass unemployment and hardship for
millions of people, not just in the US but around the world.

The Jazz Age
Trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong, playing here with King
Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, was one of jazz music’s biggest stars.

CONSUMER GOODS RISING SKYSCRAPERS New heights

During the 1920s, factories began to The economic boom in the US brought Construction of the iconic
mass-produce time-saving devices such with it the need for more office space. 102-storey Empire State Building
as vacuum cleaners and washing machines. Tall buildings, or “skyscrapers”, were the in New York City began on 17
Banks let people pay in instalments, making answer. New developments in technology, March, 1930, six months after the
these new goods more affordable. especially steel, made it possible for Wall Street Crash, despite the poor
skyscrapers to reach unprecedented state of the economy. It opened to
heights and architects competed to see the public on 1 May, 1931, 45
who could build the tallest building. In the days earlier than scheduled.
1920s, these super-high structures were a
symbol of US confidence, but they became
an important source of jobs, and hope,
during the troubled times of the 1930s.

Buy it now! Race to the top
Colourful, catchy adverts persuaded Americans to buy Each day, 3,400 workers constructed the building,
new items for their homes. This poster for vacuum completing an average of four and a half floors per
cleaners promised US housewives more leisure time. week. The building was finished in just 410 days.

12 million The number of Americans President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to the US population every week 171
unemployed in 1932. during his “fireside chats”, which were broadcast on national radio.

THE GREAT DEPRESSION Tallest tower
To guarantee its position
For years, Americans had bought small as the world’s tallest
shares in companies, or stocks, hoping building, architects
to get rich from their profits. But between topped the skyscraper
24 and 29 October, 1929, the New York with an aerial.
stock market crashed. Stock prices
slumped, quickly becoming worthless, in The Dust Bowl
what became known as the “Wall Street
Crash”. It triggered the Great Depression, During the 1930s, severe droughts and dust storms hit the US,
which lasted until the late 1930s. affecting 4,000 sq km (1,500 sq miles) of land from Texas to
Nebraska. Soil turned to dust, causing crops and livestock to die.
Hoovervilles Unable to grow anything, 200,000 farmers migrated to California.

Unable to repay bank loans, more than two The New Deal
million people lost their homes during the Great
Depression. In major cities, large shanty towns, In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt
or slums, sprang up. They were nicknamed became US president, promising
“Hoovervilles”, after President Herbert Hoover, a “New Deal” to help the country
who was blamed for the economy’s collapse. recover. He pledged assistance
for the poor and launched huge
public projects to boost the
economy and to create more
jobs for the unemployed.

Stepped back
The building’s design was
stepped, to allow sunlight to

reach the street below.

172 the modern world AGE OF DICTATORS 1934 The year Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini
first met, in Venice, Italy.
Political extremes

By the end of the 1930s, democracy was
under threat. Dictators, many of whom
were either communist or fascist, were in
power in many different countries across
Europe. Communist dictators believed in
government control of the economy and
resources, while fascist leaders were
extremely nationalistic. They rejected
democracy, and communism.

Age of GERMANY
dictators
FRANCE
The 1930s was a time of economic
hardship around the world and many The Spanish Civil War
people were poor, unemployed, and General Franco led
desperate. Across Europe, strong leaders nationalist forces to
seized control, in some cases using force. These victory in the Spanish
extreme, all-powerful rulers were called dictators. Civil War, defeating
the republicans and
Although many of these dictators promised a better future for their overthrowing the
citizens, their ruthless policies were responsible for the deaths of democratic government.
millions of people. They rejected democracy, glorified war, used
violence to crush their political opponents, and stoked racial divisions.

SPAIN

LISBON PORTUGAL MADRID

Antonio de General Francisco Franco
Oliveira Salazar In Spain, army leader General
Antonio Salazar became Franco became dictator in 1939
prime minister in 1932. after three years of civil war. His
He went on to form a fascist regime would be in power
conservative, nationalist for the next 40 years.
dictatorship, using
censorship and the help
of his secret police.

13 The number of five-year plans that were developed between Stalin was born Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili. 173
1928 and 1991 to modernize the Soviet Union’s economy. He changed his name to Stalin, meaning “Man of steel”.
MOSCOW
Reichstag fire Five-year plans
In 1933, Hitler used a In an effort to modernize
fire at the Reichstag, the the country’s economy, Stalin
parliament building, as an introduced new policies for
excuse to declare a state farmers. But they backfired,
of emergency, allowing resulting in famine and the
him to take complete
control of the country. deaths of millions.

BERLIN Adolf Hitler
In Germany, economic struggles
increased popular support for SOVIET UNION
Adolf Hitler’s fascist Nazi Party.
He became Führer (leader)
in 1934. He persecuted Jews
across Europe and his imperial
ambitions led to the outbreak
of World War II.

VIENNA BUDAPEST Engelbert Dollfuss
In 1932, Austrian Chancellor
AUSTRIA HUNGARY Engelbert Dollfuss established
an authoritarian regime,
abolishing all other political
parties. He modelled his
politics on Mussolini and
Italian fascism.

Joseph Stalin
Communist Joseph Stalin came
to power in the Soviet Union in
1924. He seized total control of
the state and the economy. He
strengthened his power by
using propaganda to shape
public opinion.

ROME ITALY

Fascist symbol
Mussolini chose the
ancient Roman image of
an eagle clutching a
bundle of sticks (a symbol
of collective strength) to
represent Italian fascism.

Benito Mussolini General Miklos Horthy
The founder of fascism, In 1920, General Horthy’s
Benito Mussolini, became army overthrew Hungary’s
dictator of Italy in 1925. communist regime. Horthy
He called himself Il Duce was an authoritarian ruler
(The Leader) and used his secret who believed he was creating
police to crush his opponents. a strong, united nation. He
ruled until he was arrested by
invading Nazi troops in 1944.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

174 the modern world THE GOLDEN AGE OF CINEMA 90% of films made before
1929 have been lost.
The Golden Age Lights
of Cinema Moveable lights Studio rigging
allowed studios to The “grip” was the person
Lights! Camera! Action! In 1895, the Lumière
brothers in France developed the cinematograph, film indoors. that organized the
a device to capture moving pictures. By the late equipment holding cameras
1920s – the start of the Golden Age of Cinema – Gaffer
their invention had inspired an industry of The electrician in and lighting in position.
filmmakers determined to entertain audiences. charge of the film’s
lighting was known
As technology improved, films changed from silent, black- as the “Gaffer”.
and-white creations that were just a few minutes long to
feature-length, full-colour epics, gangster films, musicals,
and comedies with sound. By the 1930s, film studios
were producing films as fast as they could for audiences
desperate for light relief from the Great Depression – a
period of economic hardship for many around the world.
Hollywood, once a quiet suburb of Los Angeles, became
the home of the US film industry – its warm weather
perfect for filming outdoors all year round.

Camera operator
Many camera operators
spent 20 or 30 years at
the same studio, helping

to create a unique
studio style.

Creative vision Long day
Directors were in charge of Actors could wait
for hours at a time
everything creative. They
earned great recognition if to be filmed.
their films were well received.
Overworked
1930s film set So that studios could churn
out films as fast as possible,
Film studios employed actors could be made to work up
thousands of people who to 18 hours a day, six days a week.
carried out all sorts of jobs,
from actors and directors to
costume designers and film
editors. They worked tirelessly
on vast sets that were built to

mimic real life.

Synchronized sound
Films were silent until 1927,
when the Warner Brothers studio
released The Jazz Singer, the first
“talkie”, marking a new era in cinema.
To synchronize the action in a scene
with sound that was recorded
separately, a clapper board was
struck to make a noise when
the camera started rolling.

7,500 The number of films released by the 80 million The number of people who visited the cinema 175
Hollywood studios between 1930 and 1945. each week during the 1930s in the US.

Animation Bollywood Special effects Green screen
Today, technology
One of the first cartoons ever to feature The Indian film As film technology lets film editors add a
sound was Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie, industry, popularly advanced, Hollywood background to a scene
released in 1928. Just eight minutes long, it known as Bollywood, enticed people to after it has been filmed.
propelled Disney’s character “Mickey Mouse” is based in Bombay cinemas with jaw-
to stardom and started what became known (Mumbai). It is famous dropping special
as the Golden Age of Animation. for big-budget films, effects. In 1977,
vibrant song-and- the film Star Wars,
Pioneer of animation dance routines, and by American director
American artist and superstar actors who George Lucas, was
producer Walt Disney are adored by their released. Full of
(1901–1966) created fans. The first incredible effects,
many classic animated Bollywood film was it wowed audiences
films including, Snow Raja Harishchandra, and set a new standard
White and the Seven released in 1913. for thrilling films.
Dwarfs (1937) and
Cinderella (1950). BOLLYWOOD DANCERS

Changing scenery Star power
To create a background behind the Some actors became household
actors, an image was projected
onto a large canvas screen. names and huge celebrities,
including Shirley Temple, who
began her career when she was
just three years old. The public

and private lives of famous
stars were carefully controlled
by the studio they worked for.

Quick change
Time was money, and
studios kept up a relentless
pace during filming, with
actors changing costumes
and make-up on set.

Make-up artist
Specialists used make-up
to help transform actors
into their characters.
Actors often had to report
for hair and make-up at
4 a.m. each day.

Extra
Some films had a cast of
thousands, with extras
playing lots of different
smaller parts.

Avoiding mistakes Cable
The script supervisor ensured that Cables trailed across the floor
props, costumes, hair, and make-up of the set, providing power
were consistent in each scene. to cameras and lights.

176 the modern world WORLD WAR II BEGINS 6 The number of weeks it took for
Germany to conquer France.
World War II
begins Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane was the
In 1939, a war erupted in Europe that would go on RAF’s most formidable aircraft
to span most of the globe. With hundreds of millions during the Battle of Britain. It was
of people caught up in the conflict, World War II capable of inflicting serious damage
became the deadliest war in history. on the enemy with its eight .303 in
(7.7 mm) machine guns. The wings
Though some countries were neutral, much of the world was of the Hurricane were partially
divided between two opposing sides: the Axis (led by covered with canvas rather than
Germany, Italy, and Japan) and the Allies (initially led by metal, allowing engineers to repair
Britain and France, later joined by the Soviet Union, the US, a plane quickly if it was damaged.
and China). When Germany, under dictator Adolf Hitler,
invaded Poland in 1939, the world was astonished by the Lethal guns
ferocity of the attack. This was the beginning of a brutal The Hurricane’s eight
six-year war, which cost millions of lives. machine guns were
positioned four in a
The Battle Supermarine Spitfire row on each wing.
of Britain Fast, light, and powerful,
this supreme fighter plane Pilot
Aircraft were used throughout played a decisive role in British pilots were
the war for bombing raids, aerial often young and
fights, and to support land battles. the Battle of Britain. hastily trained.
Germany planned to master the
skies over Britain before launching
a land invasion, but suffered its
first setback in the Battle of
Britain. The Luftwaffe – Germany’s
air force – fought Britain’s Royal
Air Force (RAF) in dogfights
(close-up aerial battles) over
southeast England, but the
RAF gradually won control.

22 The average age of a British In Poland, about 5.5 million people died during 177
pilot in the Battle of Britain. the war – one-sixth of the country’s population.

Heinkel He 111 TIMELINE Germany advances
Germany’s Heinkel He 111 bomber enjoyed
early success in the war. It could take heavy After World War I, European leaders
damage and still remain airborne, but was were wary of more fighting, but Adolf
no match for the modern fighters of the Hitler’s foreign policy made conflict
RAF and so became obsolete before the war inevitable. Aiming to create a Greater
ended. After the Battle of Britain, German Germany in Europe, Hitler expanded
Heinkel He 111 pilots switched to attacking his army, annexed German-speaking
British cities and industrial sites. Austria in 1938, and invaded
Czechoslovakia in March 1939.
Experienced flyer Messerschmitt Bf 109 May–June 1940 1939—1945 1 Sept 1939
German pilots usually These German fighter The invasion of Poland
planes were heavy Hitler’s tanks blasted deep into Polish territory.
had more combat and had a short range, Poland’s allies, Britain and France, declared war
experience than which hampered on Germany but failed to launch an attack, and
British pilots. their effectiveness. Poland was crushed in little over a month.

Battle of the Atlantic
Throughout the war, Hitler tried to starve Britain
by attacking ships carrying food and weapons from
the US. Supply ships were bombarded constantly
by aircraft and U-boats (German submarines).

Blitzkrieg
In May 1940, German forces attacked Belgium,
the Netherlands, and France using dive bombers,
tanks, and infantry to break through weak points
in Allied defences. This aggressive tactic, called
Blitzkrieg or “lightning war”, shocked and
overwhelmed the Allies.

Radar on the ground 26 May–4 June 1940 Dunkirk evacuation
Radar (Radio Detection The German advance
And Ranging) was vital to trapped 380,000 Allied
the British. It allowed the troops on the northern
RAF to track incoming coast of France. Most
enemy planes and take were rescued and
off in time to meet them. returned to Britain
by naval ships and
Sept 1940–May 1941 hundreds of civilian
volunteer vessels.

The Blitz
After losing the Battle
of Britain, Hitler began
a bombing campaign
on British cities and
ports at night, called
the Blitz, but British
defences held firm.
Children were
evacuated away from
the bombing to safety
in the countryside.

June 1941 Operation Barbarossa
Hitler ordered his troops to invade the Soviet
Union. He aimed to capture land for Lebensraum

or “living space” for the German population.

178 the modern world THE HOLOCAUST 1,500,000 The number of Jewish children
who died during the Holocaust.

Anne Frank Hiding place DENMARK
Anne Frank, a German-born Anne and her
Jewish girl, recorded her family hid for
experiences, hiding with her two years in
family from the Nazi regime in the attic of an
German-occupied Amsterdam in Amsterdam
her diary. She died at the age of townhouse.
15 in Bergen-Belsen concentration
camp, but her diary survived. Wannsee Conference
It was published in 1947. In January 1942, high-
ranking Nazis met at Wannsee
Drancy to discuss the “Final Solution”
Established in 1941, – a plan to murder all the
Drancy served as both Jewish people in Europe.
a prison and transit
camp. In total 65,000 GERMANY
Jews were deported
from Drancy to camps

in eastern Europe.

AMSTERDAM WANNSEE

NETHERLANDS Dachau
The first Nazi concentration
BELGIUM camp, Dachau, opened for
political prisoners in 1933.
DRANCY NUREMBERG
DACHAU CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Nuremburg laws
Passed by the Nazis in 1935, the AUSTRIA
Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their
German citizenship, restricted the jobs
they could do, and later forced them to
wear yellow Star of David badges.

FRANCE

Persecution in Europe ITALY
Concentration camps
The German state persecuted Jews Those imprisoned in
across German-occupied Europe. concentration camps
Thousands were massacred in the were separated from
Soviet Union after it was invaded their families and forced
by Axis forces in 1941. Jews from to carry out hard labour.
the rest of Europe were loaded on Conditions were appalling
trains and taken to be killed in and many were worked
death camps in Poland or to work or starved to death.
as slaves in concentration camps.
Victims did not know where they
were being taken or what might
happen to them there.

15,000 The number of concentration camps 10,000 The number of Nazi war criminals 179
established across German-occupied Europe. imprisoned after World War II.

Warsaw Ghetto The Holocaust
When Germany invaded
Poland in 1939, Jews were During World War II (1939–1945), the
forced into ghettos – German anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) Nazi Party,
restricted urban areas led by dictator Adolf Hitler, systematically
controlled by Nazi troops. imprisoned and killed Jewish people in
The Warsaw Ghetto held Europe. This is known as the “Holocaust”.
more than 300,000 people
in awful conditions. By 1945, about 6 million Jews, as well as 5 million
Romanies, Soviet prisoners of war, political
LATVIA prisoners, homosexuals, and disabled people, had
been murdered by the Nazis. Millions more were
LITHUANIA imprisoned in concentration camps (huge prisons).
The Holocaust officially ended after Allied forces
EAST defeated Hitler and the German army in 1945. When
PRUSSIA the camps were liberated by Allied soldiers, they
found victims sick and traumatized.
TREBLINKA
SOVIET UNION
CHELMNO WARSAW SOBIBOR POLAND

AUSCHWITZ

MAJDANEK

BELZEC

Auschwitz HUNGARY Death camps
The largest of the At death camps set up in Poland,
Nazi death camps, the Nazis murdered millions of
more than 1 million Jews by gassing them to death
people died here. in locked chambers. This image
shows a room full of thousands
of shoes collected from people
killed in the gas chambers at
Belzec death camp.

YUGOSLAVIA ROMANIA
BULGARIA
Key

Death camp
Deportation route
Extent of Axis control,
December 1941



World War II
in Africa

During World War II, fighting in
North Africa saw the opposing sides
push each other’s forces backwards
and forwards across the desert
between 1940 and 1943.

After Italy entered the war on the side
of Germany in June 1940, British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill dispatched
troops to North Africa to support those
already stationed in Egypt. There, he
hoped to remove the Italians from their
colony in Libya. Forces from Britain and
its colonies won a decisive victory against
the Italians, but then German dictator
Adolf Hitler sent the brilliant general
Erwin Rommel to Africa. Rommel
reversed some of the British gains,
and extended the North African
Campaign for another two years.

September 1940 February 1941
Benito Mussolini, Hitler dispatched
General Erwin Rommel
dictator of Italy, to North Africa. His
ordered the invasion forces drove Britain
of Egypt, which was back through Libya
towards Egypt.
occupied by the
British. Within November 1942
Lieutenant-General
months, his troops Bernard Montgomery,
were overwhelmed commander of the
British Eighth Army,
by Allied forces. defeated Rommel at
El Alamein in Egypt.
From April 1941 It was a turning point in
Australian troops the war in North Africa.
captured Tobruk in
eastern Libya and May 1943
then resisted German US troops eventually
attempts to take it back helped force the
in an eight-month siege. surrender of German
and Italian forces in
November 1942 Tunisia after a long
Commanded by US struggle. Almost
General Dwight D. 250,000 troops were
Eisenhower, a series of taken prisoner, and all
British and American of North Africa was
landings and assaults in Allied hands.
brought reinforcements,
including US tanks.

General Erwin Rommel
Rommel was nicknamed the “Desert Fox” for his
capable leadership of German and Italian forces
in the North African Campaign. A national hero
in Germany, Rommel was highly respected by
his counterparts in the British army.

the modern world 90%182 of Japanese torpedoes struck a US
WORLD WAR II BECOMES GLOBAL ship during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Island hopping World War II The control centre
becomes global The Island, the ship’s
The US navy adopted a strategy of “island-hopping”. The aim main control centre, had
was to quickly capture and control strategic islands along a World War II began in Europe, but by late a narrow base to save
path towards the Japanese mainland, bringing US bombers 1941, the conflict had spread worldwide. space on the flight deck.
within range of the country in preparation for an invasion. While the Allied forces fought for survival It held the navigation
against Hitler’s army in Europe, Japan began bridge and the flight
Key to expand its empire in Southeast Asia.
deck control, which
Japanese Empire, 1931 In December 1941, Japan attacked European- and oversaw all planes
Japanese gains by 1942 US-controlled territories across Southeast Asia. But taking off and landing.
Extent of Japanese by mid-1942, Japan’s advance was halted by the
expansion JAPAN PACIFIC US, the only country powerful enough to thwart its
Allied advances OCEAN imperial ambitions.

INDOCHINA Pearl
Harbor
BURMA PHILIPPINES
THAILAND DUTCH Hawaii
EAST INDIES
MALAYA New
Singapore Guinea
0 2,000 km
0 1,000 miles

Ready for anything
Planes could launch or land
at either end of the ship,
in case part of the flight
deck was damaged.

Onboard weaponry Crew living space
The aircraft carrier’s More than 2,000 people,
including sailors, pilots,
machine guns were mechanics, and cooks,
protected by shielded lived on board. The ship
held enough supplies
mounts and used to to last for months at sea.
defend the ship against

dive bombers.

Camouflaged hull Underwater protection
The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was Upright walls, or “bulkheads”,
painted in different shades of blue within the ship’s hull were up
to make it harder for enemy to 4 cm (2 in) thick and made
planes and ships to spot it at sea. of steel to limit the damage
caused by enemy torpedoes.

Timeline 7 December, 1941 4–7 June, 1942 August 1942–February 1943

The Allies fight back Pearl Harbor Battle of Midway Battle of Stalingrad
Hoping to destroy the US navy’s Pacific Japan suffered a huge Hitler’s ambition to expand
By late 1941, Hitler’s domination Fleet in one devastating blow, Japan defeat at the Battle of into eastern Europe suffered
of Europe was almost complete. launched a surprise attack on the US Midway when four of its a major setback when his
But after a series of victories in naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. aircraft carriers and 3,500 troops were trapped by the
the first two years of the war, In response, the US of its sailors and airmen Soviet army in the city of
Germany’s military was starting entered the war were lost. The only aircraft Stalingrad, Russia. Suffering
to weaken. As the US joined the against Japan and carrier lost by the US was from frostbite, and short of
fighting in December 1941, Germany. It became the USS Yorktown. The food and ammunition, the
the war was beginning to turn a powerful new ally Japanese navy never German army was forced to
in favour of the Allies. for Britain and the recovered from the losses it surrender. In total, 2.2 million
Soviet Union. experienced during the soldiers died during the
Battle of Midway. Battle of Stalingrad.

36 The number of days it took for US forces to capture 8.15 a.m. The moment the atomic bomb struck 183
the island of Iwo Jima from Japan in 1945. the city of Hiroshima on 6 August, 1945.

Flight deck Folded wings
The ship’s flight deck was When planes weren’t in
250 m (828 ft) in length. the air, their wings were
kept folded to save space.

Planes in position
A lift below deck raised
the aircraft one-by-one
from the hangar to the
flight deck.

Engine room Hangar
The engine room generated enough The hangar was the height
power for the ship to travel at of two decks and had space
32.5 knots – about 60 km/h (37 mph). to store 90 aircraft when
they weren’t in use.

The Grey Ghost Kamikaze Ready for battle Women at work Recruitment campaign
tactics Kamikaze pilots wore a Posters inspired women
During World War II, the US and Japan hachmaki, a traditional In the US, with the to take on jobs done
used aircraft carriers – enormous floating As Japan was forced Japanese headcloth. country’s men sent previously by men.
air bases – to get their planes into position to retreat, its military abroad to fight, new job
ready to fight. The USS Enterprise (CV-6) resorted to desperate opportunities opened up
took part in more battles against Japan tactics. The airforce for women. American
than any other US ship. On three filled aircraft with women entered the
occasions, the Japanese navy thought bombs and crashed workforce in huge
they had sunk it and announced it had them deliberately numbers. They were
gone down, earning the aircraft carrier into the decks of US encouraged to work on
its nickname “The Grey Ghost”. and British warships. farms, in shipyards,
In total, 34 US railway companies, and
warships were sunk aeroplane manufacturers
by these Japanese to support the war effort.
kamikaze attacks.

6 June, 1944 February 1945 April 1945 6 and 9 August, 1945

D-Day landings Dresden Germany falls Atomic bombs
After two years of planning, the With Germany almost Soviet forces entered Berlin, The war had ended in Europe but
Allied invasion of western Europe, defeated, Britain and the taking control of the city after Japan refused to surrender. On
“Operation Overlord”, began. Nearly US unleashed a series of fierce street fighting with German 6 August, 1945, the world’s first
200,000 troops were ferried across devastating air raids on troops. Hitler committed suicide atomic bomb to be used in war,
the English Channel to capture five major German cities to stop and Germany surrendered. nicknamed “Little Boy”, was
beaches in Normandy, France. military resistance and dropped over Hiroshima in Japan.
crush civilian morale. The Three days later, a second atomic
bombing of Dresden in bomb, “Fat Man”, was released over
February 1945 created a Nagasaki. Tens of thousands were
huge firestorm which killed killed immediately and thousands
an estimated 25,000 people, more died later from the effects of
most of whom were civilians radiation. Japan finally surrendered
or refugees. on 14 August, 1945.

184 the modern world DECOLONIZATION 1 million people are estimated to have died in the
months following the Partition of India.

Decolonization SOUTH ASIA

World War II was the final blow for colonialism (powerful The campaign to end British
countries or empires controlling other regions around the rule over the vast Indian
world). Weakened by years of conflict, empires could not subcontinent started long
control their overseas territories as the people of Asia, before World War II. The
Africa, and the Caribbean called for independence. Indian National Congress,
founded in 1885, was the main
By 1945, the Japanese, Italian, and German empires had fallen, and opposition movement against
their colonies were occupied by other powers or came back under British rule. The All-India
local control. But many other colonies, mostly under British, French, Muslim League was formed in
or Dutch rule, still wanted to govern themselves. Some colonies 1906 to protect the rights of
gained independence through peaceful means, but often the Indian Muslims. In 1947, India
European powers refused to let go. The process of decolonization gained independence and was
– giving a colony its own political independence – also coincided divided into two independent
with the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union. Both of states: India and Pakistan.
these powers interfered in the running of newly independent states.

AFRICA Ghana independence MAURITANIA MALI

From the 1950s onwards, many African The Gold Coast, a British colony in NIGER CHAD
countries gained independence from colonial West Africa, had been demanding
rule. For some African nations the transition independence since 1947. In 1949, SENEGAL
to independence was violently opposed by nationalist Kwame Nkrumah
the ruling colonizers, such as in Algeria where formed the Convention People’s NIGERIA
France was determined to keep control. In the Party (CPP), an organization
1970s, Portugal also fought bitter wars to fighting for self-governance. REPUBLIC OF TOGO CENTRAL
maintain control of Angola and Mozambique. Nkrumah began a campaign UPPER VOLTA AFRICAN
of non-violent opposition. DAHOMEY REPUBLIC
A false start Independence was proclaimed IVORY CAMEROON DEMOCRATIC
for the new nation of Ghana on COAST
Egypt had gained independence 6 March 1957, with Nkrumah REPUBLIC
from Britain in 1922, but becoming prime minister. GABON OF CONGO
Britain still interfered in the
government and controlled Kwame Nkrumah REPUBLIC OF
the Suez Canal (an important As prime minister, Nkrumah improved THE CONGO
waterway in Egypt used by education, roads, and health facilities.
many countries to trade with The Year of Africa
each other). In 1956, the
Egyptian president, Gamal In 1960, 17 countries, including 14
Abdel Nasser, declared the former French colonies, declared their
Suez Canal to be the property independence in what became known
of Egypt. Britain, France, and as the Year of Africa. By 1990, every
Israel responded with force, country in Africa was independent.
but withdrew after pressure
from the US, the Soviet Union,
and the United Nations.

GAMAL ABDEL NASSER

Timeline 1946 1949 1954 1957

Southeast Asia The Philippines Indonesia French Indochina Malaya
Since the 1930s, the In 1945, the leader of Indonesia’s In the late 1940s, the Part of the Malayan
Japan had invaded Southeast Philippines had been pushing nationalist movement proclaimed the French struggled to Communist Party declared
Asia during World War II, driving for independence, but World independent Republic of Indonesia. In control its colonies in war on Britain in 1948.
out the old colonial powers. After War II interrupted the fight 1949, the Dutch recognized Indonesian Indochina – Vietnam, Laos, Independence was not given
the war, these colonial powers for self-governance. The independence after four years of war. and Cambodia. Nationalist to the Federation of Malaya
returned, but many countries did Philippines was the first uprisings against French until 1957. In 1963, the
not want them back. Nationalist Southeast Asian country to rule began to take their British colonies of Sabah,
movements (groups supporting gain its freedom after World toll, and a French military Sarawak, and Singapore
political independence), stirred War II, when the US granted defeat at Dien Bien Phu in joined the Federation to
up by Japanese occupation, it formal independence Vietnam prompted peace form Malaysia. In 1965,
demanded self-rule. on 4 July, 1946. negotiations. After an Singapore became an
agreement was reached independent state.
in 1954, French Indochina
came to an end. A 10-CENT STAMP
SOLD IN MALAYA ON
INDONESIAN INDEPENDENCE FIGHTER INDEPENDENCE DAY

21 days – the length of Gandhi’s 54 internationally recognized nations were 150,000 The estimated death toll in 185
longest fast in peaceful protest. created in Africa after decolonization. the French-Algerian conflict.

Civil disobedience Refugee camp in Delhi, India The Partition of India
During the “Great Migration”, tens of thousands were
The campaign for independence in driven into refugee camps all over the continent. After independence in 1947,
India was led by Mohandas Gandhi. the British divided India into
He used a campaign of civil two: a Muslim-majority
disobedience (non-violent defiance) Pakistan and a Hindu-majority
called satyagraha. From 1917, he India. Pakistan itself was split
organized protests, made inspiring into two regions on either side
speeches, disobeyed British laws, of India: West Pakistan and
and called on Indians to stop buying East Pakistan (East Pakistan
British goods. He was jailed many later became the nation of
times, but his insistence on not Bangladesh). Millions of
using violence gained him the name Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims
“Mahatma”, meaning “Great Soul”. found themselves on the
wrong side of the new
Mohandas Gandhi borders. During the “Great
Gandhi encouraged Indians to weave Migration”, 6 million Muslims
their own clothes by spinning cotton crossed into West Pakistan,
instead of buying British products. and 4.5 million Sikhs and
Hindus went to India.
THE CARIBBEAN
SOMALIA
The US exerted strong political,
military, and economic influence over
the Caribbean throughout the 20th
century. After the Spanish-American
War in 1898, Spain handed control of
Cuba and Puerto Rico to the US, and
Puerto Rico became a US territory.
In 1915, the US invaded Haiti and
stayed in the country for almost 20
years. In Cuba, during a communist
revolution in 1959, the US-backed
president Fulgencio Batista was
forced out, ending direct interference
by the US in the country’s affairs.

MADAGASCAR THE LEADER OF THE The British Caribbean Jamaican
CUBAN REVOLUTION independence
Key In 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago became Norman W. Manley
WWAHS OFIDELRCUALSTERDO politically independent. This event ushered in a period was the founder of
Countries that gained of decolonization of the British colonies in the Caribbean, the Jamaican
independence in 1960 CUBA UNTIL 2008 including Barbados, Grenada, the Bahamas, Dominica, and People’s National
St. Lucia. Many Caribbean countries joined the British Party, seen here
Commonwealth, becoming self-governing nations while during Jamaica’s
retaining Britain’s monarch as their Head of State. first Independence
Day celebrations.

September, 1975 November, 1975 1997

New Guinea East Timor Hong Kong and Macao
During World War II, The Portuguese left East After 150 years, control of
Japanese forces occupied Timor in 1975, but it was Hong Kong returned from
New Guinea but were soon occupied by Indonesia. Britain back to China in
pushed back by Allied More than 100,000 East 1997. However, Hong
forces. After the war, Timorese people died in Kong’s government
Australia took control of the the following decades-long remained separate from
region. In 1975, Papua and conflict. In a referendum that of mainland China.
New Guinea became the run by the United Nations Control of Macao, the
independent state of Papua in 1999, Timorese people last colony in Asia, was
New Guinea, one of the last voted for independence. In returned to China in 1999.
colonies in the world to 2002, the UN supervised a
gain independence. transition to Timorese Handover celebrations
self-government. Victoria Harbour in Hong

Kong was lit up with
fireworks to mark the
historic handover to China.

186 the modern world THE COLD WAR The Soviet Union successfully tested its atomic
bomb for the first time on 29 August, 1949.

Era of tension Timeline The Death Strip Watchtower High-intensity lights
The barrier consisted of two There were more than 300 Floodlights gave border
Although the US and the Soviet Union had fought on concrete walls: the political watchtowers along the guards a better chance of
the same side during World War II, their relationship boundary and the rear wall. length of the Berlin Wall. spotting anyone trying to
soon broke down into rivalry and distrust. They The area in between was
avoided direct conflict with each other but took known as the “Death Strip”. escape at night.
sides in “proxy wars” that erupted in smaller nations.

NATO and the Warsaw Pact 1949
Western Europe and the US formed
NATO, an alliance of democratic WARSAW PACT
countries. The Soviet Union and its BADGE
allies created a similar treaty, the
Warsaw Pact in 1955, in response.

The Korean War 1950–1953 1955–1975 1956
With the support of the US, South Korea fought
against an invasion by communist North
Korea. The Soviet Union and China supported
the North. The conflict ended in stalemate.

The Vietnam War Viewing platform
The US sent troops to support South Vietnam in its Western tourists stood on
brutal fight against communist North Vietnam. The observation platforms to
North was supported by the Soviet Union and China. see into the “Death Strip”.
The war dragged on and ended in defeat for the US.
Wall graffiti
The Hungarian Uprising 1961 The concrete face on the western side
The Hungarian people rebelled against their Soviet- of the wall was used as a blank canvas
controlled government. Thousands were killed by for paintings and protest messages.
Soviet troops after the US failed to intervene. This painting is called Some heads by
Thierry Noir, but much of the artwork
The Berlin Wall was anonymous. The eastern side of
Facing large-scale emigration, Soviet-influenced East the wall remained blank because
Germany erected the Berlin Wall, dividing communist people were forbidden to approach it.
East Berlin from capitalist West Berlin.

The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962
The world came close to nuclear war when the Soviet
Union installed nuclear missiles on the island of 1968
Cuba, close to the coast of North America.
1989
The Prague Spring
Under new leader Alexander Dubček, Czechoslovakia
experienced a period of freedom. Within months,
Soviet troops invaded, restoring communist control.

The fall of the Berlin Wall
Relations between the two superpowers began to
thaw in the 1980s, culminating in the Berlin Wall
being torn down. Germany was reunified a year later.

The Iron Curtain Political boundary
The western side of
The Soviet Union installed communist the wall was made up
regimes across Eastern Europe, sometimes of 45,000 concrete
using force. By 1950, it lay behind a wall of panels, each reinforced
communist states forming an East–West with steel and topped
divide that British politician Winston
Churchill called the “Iron Curtain”. It stretched with tubing.
6,800 km (4,225 miles) across Europe.

SWEDEN EAST
WEST BERLIN
DENMARK BERLIN

NETH. Berlin UNION OF Anti-vehicle ditch
SOVIET V-shaped ditches were
BEL. EAST POLAND
GERMANY SOCIALIST dug all along the East
REPUBLICS German border.
WEST CZECHOSLOVAKIA
GERMANY (USSR) Sometimes reinforced
with concrete, they
FRANCE SWITZ. AUSTRIA HUNGARY
could stop almost any
YUGOSLAVIA ROMANIA type of vehicle.

Key I TA LY BULGARIA

Soviet- 0 250 500 km
controlled area

Iron Curtain 0 250 miles

8 The number of countries that were 5,000 The number of people thought to have 187
members of the Warsaw Pact. fled East Germany across the wall.

Guarding the wall The Cold War
Armed East German border guards
watched the wall constantly for In the aftermath of World War II, the world’s two
people trying to escape to West most powerful nations, the US and the Soviet Union,
Berlin. Guards had permission to contested for military, cultural, and political supremacy.
shoot anyone attempting to flee;
more than 130 East Germans died The superpowers were divided over their political beliefs: the
trying to get across the wall. Soviet system was based on communism (in which a central
government controls and distributes property) while the US
favoured capitalism (a system that encourages private ownership
of property). The two countries competed for dominance in many
ways, from space exploration to sport and technology. They raced
to develop more effective nuclear weapons, eventually
stockpiling enough to destroy the planet. The threat of nuclear
war prevented a direct battle, but their rivalry played out in a
“cold war” of propaganda and fear that affected the entire globe.

The rear wall The Berlin Wall
On the eastern side, there
was a rear wall built of The most visible symbol of the
reinforced concrete and Cold War was the Berlin Wall in
topped with barbed wire. Germany. Erected by East Germany
in 1961, the 156-km- (97-mile-) long
barrier prevented people from
escaping Soviet-controlled East
Germany for democratic West Berlin.
The wall divided families and friends
until it was torn down in 1989.

Patrols Spike mats
Border guards Sharp spikes at the bottom
worked in pairs. of the wall deterred
Only the most potential escapees.
trusted guards
worked in the Signal fence
“Death Strip”. Touching the fence triggered
a silent alarm to alert the
Dogs guards in the watchtower.
Guard dogs were
leashed to stakes Czech hedgehogs
and could alert the These X-shaped
steel beams
guards to any acted as a barrier
escapees. against vehicles.

188 the modern world THE VIETNAM WAR 306,183 The number of US air attacks against North
Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder.

Fight for influence Timeline The Vietnam War

The US aimed to stop South Vietnam 1954 In 1959, conflict broke out in South Vietnam
from falling under the control of between pro-communist forces and the
communist North Vietnam, but March 1959 anti-communist government. Eventually
despite the superior military power the US became involved, with the conflict
of the US, it was defeated. May 1959 1964 becoming the 20th century’s longest war.

The end of colonialism 1965 The communist North Vietnamese government
Communist leader Ho Chi Minh’s troops defeated encouraged the unrest in South Vietnam, increasing
the French army at Dien Bien Phu, ending 67 1968 its support gradually by sending in the North
years of French control. The country was divided Vietnamese Army (NVA). The US, caught up in a
into two zones – communist-controlled North Cold War with the Soviet Union, feared the spread
Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam. of communism in Southeast Asia. It joined the
fighting in support of anti-communist South
Declaration of war Vietnam, sending more and more troops, and
Ho Chi Minh declared a resulting in the loss of more than 50,000 US
“People’s War” in South lives. The US withdrew from the conflict in
Vietnam, intending to 1973, before the fighting ended in 1975.
eventually reunite the
two zones of the country Cockpit
under his leadership. Inside the cockpit
there were seats for
The Ho Chi Minh trail the pilot and co-pilot.
North Vietnamese forces began to create the Ho Chi
Minh trail – a network of routes leading from North 1969
Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia into South Vietnam,
which they used to transport soldiers and weapons. 1970

Naval attack 1973 Front flank gunner
In the Gulf of Tonkin, a clash between the US A gunner with an M60
destroyer USS Maddox and North Vietnamese
torpedo boats led to the US pledging more machine gun sat in
military support for South Vietnam. position ready to fire.

“Operation 1975 “Vietnam was lost
Rolling Thunder”
In March, US President in the living rooms of America –
Lyndon Johnson ordered not on the battlefields of Vietnam”.
“Operation Rolling
Thunder”, a huge bombing Marshall McLuhan, in the Montreal
campaign against North Vietnam. The first US Gazette, 16 May, 1975
Marines landed in South Vietnam, with army
ground troops arriving two months later.

The Tet Offensive
During the festival of Tet, communist forces struck
targets in towns and cities across South Vietnam. US
and South Vietnamese troops defeated the offensive,
but suffered a high number of casualties.

Changing policy
As US public opinion
turned against the war,
US President Nixon
announced a policy of
strengthening the South
Vietnamese forces in
order to reduce the
number of US troops
in the country.

Kent State shootings
Four students at Kent State University in Ohio in
the US were killed when the Ohio National Guard
opened fire on a crowd protesting about the war.

US withdrawal
In January, peace talks in Paris between the US and
representatives of the North Vietnamese government
ended in agreement to withdraw US troops by March.

Vietnam reunited
North Vietnamese
troops marched into
Saigon, reuniting the
country and ending
the war.

By 1970, 18,000 tonnes of supplies were being 23 The average age of a US soldier 189
transported along the Ho Chi Minh trail each month. killed during the Vietnam War.
Engine power
US CH-47 Chinook Careful design The Chinook was
With two rotors, front and powered by two
Stable, agile, and fast, the US CH-47 Chinook back, the Chinook was more gas turbine engines.
helicopter transported soldiers, vehicles, steady and stable in flight than It was one of the
ammunition, and casualties quickly over other helicopters designed US army’s fastest
Vietnam’s rugged jungle terrain. It had a with just one rotor. helicopters, with
hook underneath that allowed it to carry a top speed of
heavy artillery to mountain positions 315 km/h (196 mph).
inaccessible by foot, and even to pick
up and move lighter aircraft. Loading ramp
This ramp could be raised
US troops Cabin window or lowered, allowing troops
Those personnel In case of emergencies, to load and unload cargo.
serving in the war were the cabin windows
from a variety of could be jettisoned
different ethnic and (thrown from the
social backgrounds. aircraft) so that soldiers
on board could escape.

Transporting troops Onboard vehicle
The Chinook could The Chinook had space to carry
carry up to 33 fully a Jeep on board. The Jeep was
equipped soldiers. well-suited to Vietnam’s rugged
jungle terrain.
Public protests
Guerrilla warfare
The Vietnam War was the first
The NVA and the Viet Cong, a conflict to be reported on television,
pro-communist force in the south, used and many Americans were deeply
guerrilla tactics against US soldiers. angered by the death and
Hidden by jungle, they planted booby destruction they saw. Huge anti-war
traps or attacked US troops from a demonstrations were organized
distance, then quickly disappeared. around the country and some young
Unlike the US military, the NVA and people refused the draft – the
the Viet Cong were used to the terrain government’s order to fight.
and had the support of some locals.
Anti-war demonstrations
Standing guard In Berkeley in California, women
Thousands of South Vietnamese gathered to protest against the war.
women fought for the Viet Cong.

190 the modern world THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Because of segregation, only 1 in 40 African
Americans earned a college degree in the 1950s.

The Civil Rights MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Movement
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929 in Atlanta, in the state
In the 1950s, African Americans in the US faced of Georgia. He was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist.
daily discrimination, such as being forced to He organized many acts of non-violent protest and gave inspirational
use separate areas from white people in speeches, playing a pivotal role in ending segregation in the US. King
public places and on public transport. won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, but in April 1968 he was
assassinated by a white gunman.
A growing number of African American civil rights
groups took a stand against segregation (the
separation of people based on skin colour). Many
adopted a policy of non-violence, protesting in a
peaceful manner. These activists faced attacks from
those who opposed an end to segregation. Eventually,
in the 1960s, laws were passed to outlaw
discrimination, but many African Americans still
struggled for basic rights and to be allowed to vote.

JIM CROW LAWS

“Jim Crow” was an insulting slang term for a black
person. The Jim Crow Laws were a series of regulations
that some states used to legalize the segregation of
black and white people in places such as schools,
restaurants, libraries, hospitals, and on public transport.
The laws also made it difficult for black people to vote.

Key

Segregated
Segregation optional
Integrated
No legislation

Educational segregation in the early 1950s
Each US state had its own laws about whether black
and white children could attend the same schools.

Timeline May 1954 1957 1957 1960

The fight for equality Brown v. Board of Martin Luther King, Jr. Little Rock Nine Greensboro sit-in
Education of Topeka and the SCLC Nine African American teenagers enrolled at When four black college
During the 1950s and 1960s, When nine-year-old Linda Martin Luther King, Jr. Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, students sat down at a
black and white people came Brown tried to attend an became founder and where all 1,900 students were white. They “whites-only” lunch counter
together to demand equality for all-white school in Topeka, president of a new civil faced a hostile white crowd and had to be in a department store in
African Americans. This Civil Kansas, her enrollment was rights organization, the escorted to class by US army troops. They Greensboro, North Carolina,
Rights Movement challenged blocked. Her parents brought Southern Christian became known as the Little Rock Nine. they were refused service.
discrimination through lawsuits a lawsuit against the Topeka Leadership Conference The students remained
and non-violent protests. The Board of Education. This (SCLC). Working with the seated until closing time,
struggle for political rights and resulted in a landmark ruling NAACP, its aim was to unite and returned with 300 more
freedom was long and hard. by the US Supreme Court that African American churches students a few days later.
Many participants often faced segregation went against the across the South to advance This act of non-violent
violent attacks by people who US Constitution. The Court the cause of civil rights protest, which was known
wanted a “white-only” country. found in favour of the Browns using non-violent action. as a sit-in, inspired other
and banned segregation in sit-ins across the South.
government-run schools.

c.21,000 people were arrested for rioting after 1970 The year that Black History 191
the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Month was first celebrated.

Washington speech “I have a dream ROSA PARKS
At the end of a march AND THE BUS
attended by 250,000 that my four little children BOYCOTTS
people in Washington, DC, will one day live in a nation
Martin Luther King, Jr. gave where they will not be judged An African American
a speech on the steps of by the colour of their skin” seamstress named Rosa
the Lincoln Memorial about Parks made history in
his hopes for the future for Martin Luther King, Jr., at a 1955 when she broke
African Americans. speech in Washington, DC, 1963 Alabama segregation laws
by refusing to give up her
bus seat for a white Taking fingerprints
person. She was a member Rosa Parks was arrested when she refused to
of the National Association
for the Advancement of give up her bus seat for a white passenger.
Colored People (NAACP),
a civil rights organization
founded in 1909. Her
arrest led to a year-long
boycott of the local bus
system, led by Martin
Luther King, Jr. The
protest brought worldwide
attention to the
discrimination faced by
African Americans.

Alabama THE RIGHT
Georgia TO VOTE

Louisiana The Voting Rights Act
Mississippi of 1965 was passed by
Tennessee President Lyndon Johnson,
with Martin Luther King, Jr.
Texas present when it was signed.
Virginia The law allowed black
people the freedom to vote
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% without facing restrictions
and intimidation. The
Black voter registration Voting Rights Act was
one of the greatest
achievements of the Civil
Rights Movement. After it
was passed, the number of
African Americans who
turned up to vote soared,
particularly in the southern
states of the US.

1956 1966

1961 3 April, 1964 2 July, 1964 March, 1965 1968

Freedom rides “The ballot or 1964 Civil Rights Act Selma–Montgomery March 1968 Civil Rights Act
When new laws were the bullet” After years of protests Black people in southern states were often After Martin Luther King, Jr.
passed banning segregation Malcolm X was and intense international blocked from registering to vote. Protesters was assassinated, riots
on interstate buses, college a black Muslim pressure, the US Senate attempted to march 80 km (50 miles) from broke out across 125 US
students tested the laws by leader. In a speech brought the country a Selma in Alabama to the state capital, cities. President Johnson
taking “freedom rides” just before the step closer to equality by Montgomery, demanding the right to vote. urged Congress to quickly
throughout the South. They 1964 election, he passing the Civil Rights Act They faced brutal attacks from police. pass the Civil Rights Act.
encountered shocking said that civil rights of 1964. The law ended Commonly known as the
violence when they went would be attained segregation on buses, in Fair Housing Act, it allowed
into “whites-only” waiting either “by the ballot schools, and in other public equal housing opportunities
rooms and cafeterias, but or the bullet”. The places, and made racial for those attempting to
eventually bus and train speech encouraged discrimination in education buy or rent a home in the
companies were forced to African Americans to vote, but warned and employment illegal. US, regardless of race,
prohibit segregation. that violence was an option if the religion, or nationality.
government continued to prevent equality.
Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965.

192 the modern world THE 1960S 1966 The year Mary Quant started selling her
iconic miniskirts in London, England.

A decade of protests Timeline The 1960s

Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement After the hardships of World War II and recovery
that started in the US in the 1950s, other afterwards, the 1960s was a decade of optimism and
protest movements began to form in the fun, as young people found exciting new ways to
1960s. Protesters marched for gender express themselves through fashion, music, and art.
and racial equality, human rights, better
working conditions, the environment, and 1961 Young people were inspired by new British pop and rock
the end of war in Vietnam. The turbulent bands such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones,
decade ended with riots and social unrest. innovative fashion designers such as Mary Quant, and stylish
models including Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton. A “generation
Women’s peace protest gap” between young and old began to emerge, as young people
Women across the US marched in a one-day rebelled against their parents, challenging not just their tastes
protest against the nuclear weapons of both the in fashion and music, but their political views too.
US and the Soviet Union. This demonstration led
to the formation of a national organization – 1963 Space Age fashion
Women Strike for Peace (WSP) – which Fashion designers were
campaigned against nuclear weapons. inspired by advances in
space technology. They
March on Washington designed clothes using
Nearly 250,000 people travelled to Washington, DC,
to demand equal civil rights for African Americans. futuristic colours and
The March for Jobs and Freedom was one of the modern materials.
largest rallies in history, and where civil rights
leader Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his influential
“I Have a Dream” speech.

Colourful patterns
Some boutiques had
vivid street art on the

walls outside.

Flower power 1965 5-point haircut
The hippie movement Working women needed
emerged in San 1967
Francisco in the US. an easy-to-maintain
The movement’s haircut. Hairdresser Vidal
members, easily
recognizable with their Sassoon revolutionized
long hair and colourful women’s hair with his
clothes, peacefully iconic 5-point haircut.
opposed the war in
Vietnam, giving flowers Miniskirts
to soldiers and police. Popularized by British
designer Mary Quant,
Summer of love short miniskirts became
Thousands of young people travelled to San a symbol of rebellious
Francisco to experience hippie culture. Influenced by
Eastern religions such as Buddhism, they protested youth culture.
against violence, and embraced peace and love.
1968
Protests in France
When student riots
broke out in Paris,
10 million workers
unhappy with the
government joined
them in a huge
general strike that
lasted two weeks.

Stonewall riots 1969 Jaguar E-Type Photo shoots Fashion model
After a police raid sparked riots outside the This British sports car Fashion photographers often Fashion photographers
Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s photographed models on location turned teenage models into
Greenwich Village, the US gay rights movement was fun to drive and
was formed. It protested against the social and hugely popular. in gritty urban settings. international stars.
political discrimination of gay people.

600 million The estimated number of 32 The number of acts that 193
Beatles albums sold worldwide. performed at Woodstock in 1969.

Pop art Woodstock Jimi Hendrix
Famed for his jazz-influenced guitar
Pop art, short for “Popular art”, emerged In 1969, the Woodstock solos, legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix
in the 1950s but flourished in the 1960s. Music and Art Fair took performed on the festival’s last night.
Artists began to reject traditional painting in place on a small farm in
favour of bold colours and simple everyday upper New York State
imagery. They took their inspiration from in the US. The promotional
popular mass culture, comic books, and poster promised “3 days
advertising. The most famous pop artists of peace and music”. Half a
were Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, million people turned up to
who were both based in New York. the festival to listen to the
most famous musicians
Andy Warhol of the day, including
US pop artist Andy Warhol was fascinated Jimi Hendrix, The Who,
and Janis Joplin.
by Hollywood film stars. He depicted
famous actresses in his work many times.

Swinging London

In the 1960s, London was at the
centre of fast-changing tastes in
fashion, music, and art, with US
magazine Time calling it “the
swinging city”. Young people flocked
to London’s busy shopping streets to
browse and buy the latest trends.

Afro hair
Inspired by the Civil Rights
Movement in the US, some
black British people chose
to wear their hair naturally
as a symbol of pride.

Mop tops
British band The
Beatles popularized this
floppy hairstyle, which
marked a change from
the more conservative
male haircuts of the
previous decade.

Block colour
Bright, bold,
geometric patterns
became popular.

Mods and Rockers MINI Military clothing Gender-neutral clothing
“Mods” were people who wore parkas, The first MINI was sold in Yves Saint Laurent’s famous Fashion designers challenged traditional
polo shirts, and rode scooters. They battled 1959. It became an iconic double-breasted pea coats ignited a ideas of femininity and masculinity by
with gangs of motorbike-riding “Rockers”. symbol of 1960s Britain. trend for military-inspired fashion. creating unisex fashion that could
be worn by anyone.

194 the modern world CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST Saudi Arabia produces 10 million
barrels of oil each day.

Conflict in the West Bank SYRIA Tehran AFGHANISTAN
Middle East LEBANON
IRAN
Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, Jerusalem JORDAN Baghdad
the Middle East has experienced a series of wars
between countries within and outside the region IRAQ
and among different religious groups.
Gaza ISRAEL
The Middle East is made up of many different religious
groups, though the majority of people are Muslim Arabs. EGYPT KUWAIT Persian
In 1948, the state of Israel was created in Palestine, BAHRAIN QATAR G u l f
prompting anger across the Middle East, and sparking a
conflict that is still ongoing today. More recently, in 2010, a Red SAUDI
series of pro-democracy uprisings, later known as the Arab
Spring, led to unrest and upheaval across the region, while ARABIA UAE
civil wars in Syria and Yemen have worsened divisions.
OMAN

Sea Arabian
Sea

YEMEN 0 500 1,000 km
0 250 500 miles

The Middle East today
The Middle East is the common term used for the region consisting
today of countries in West Asia as well as Egypt in North Africa.

IRAN The Iranian Revolution

After Saudi Arabia, Iran is the second In 1941, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi came to power
largest country in the region. Iran’s as Shah (king) in Iran, backed by the US. He
population is mostly made up of Shia introduced reforms inspired by the US, but this
Muslims, followers of a particular branch angered conservative Shia Muslims. The Shah’s
of Islam. Throughout the 20th century, main opponent was Ayatollah Khomeini, a Muslim
Iran experienced regular political cleric (priest), who wanted to create a government
upheaval and war, most frequently based upon Islamic beliefs. In 1979, when more
with its neighbour, Iraq. than a million people took to the streets in
support of Khomeini, the Shah was forced to flee
and Khomeini was swept into power.

Public support
In 1979, more than a million Iranians demonstrated to
support Muslim cleric and leader Ayatollah Khomeini.

The Iran-Iraq War Tank war
Iran used British and US
With Iran in chaos after the revolution tanks, such as this Chieftain,
of 1979, Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, in its fight against Iraq.
invaded the country in 1980. He
blamed a dispute over a waterway
between the two states for the
outbreak of war. Both sides suffered
terrible losses in the fighting, which
saw the use of tanks, chemical
weapons, and trench warfare. A
ceasefire, organized by the United
Nations, was declared in 1988.

Timeline 1948 1948–1960s 1964 1967

Israel and Palestine Creation of Israel in Palestine Palestinian Palestine The Six-Day
The United Nations proposed displacement War
During the Holocaust, millions of dividing the region of Palestine After the state of Israel Liberation Fearing an Arab
Jewish people were murdered into an Arab state and a Jewish was formed, more than attack, Israel
by Germany’s Nazi Party. After state. Despite resistance from the 700,000 Palestinian Organization launched a pre-
the war, the global community Muslim Arab Palestinians, the Arabs left the region. emptive strike
was determined to find the state of Israel was created. Palestinians called The Palestine against Arab
survivors a safe and permanent this their nakba, or troops along its
homeland. They chose British- catastrophe. The Liberation borders. Israeli
controlled Palestine, because Palestinians claimed they forces seized
Jewish people believe it to be were expelled, but Israel Organization (PLO) territories from
the land promised to them by insisted the Palestinians Egypt, Syria,
God. But the Arab people were not forced to leave. was established in and Jordan.
already living there objected,
leading to years of conflict. Jordan. It aimed to

bring various Arab FORMER PLO
organizations under LEADER,
one banner, destroy YASSER ARAFAT

Israel, and create a

liberated Palestine. The PLO carried out

terrorist attacks against Israel, including

bombings and aircraft hijackings.

2010 The year of the Arab Spring – a series of pro-democracy 5.4 million The number of people who have fled 195
uprisings in multiple Muslim countries across the Middle East. Syria since the civil war began in 2011.

THE GULF WAR THE WAR
ON TERROR
In 1990, Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded oil-rich Kuwait, claiming that
it was rightfully part of Iraq. He refused the United Nations’ demand to In the 1980s, an Islamic
withdraw, and so military forces led by the US attacked and forced the terrorist group called
Iraqi army out of Kuwait during “Operation Desert Storm” in 1991. As “Al-Qaeda” formed in
they withdrew, Iraqi forces set fire to more than 600 Kuwaiti oil wells, Afghanistan. Their aim
destroying millions of barrels of oil and polluting the country. was to establish a Muslim
nation worldwide. On 11
September, 2001, they Scanning for explosives
carried out attacks in the Thousands of explosive mines were scattered
US, killing almost 3,000 around Iraq during the 2003 war. Here a US
people and prompting the soldier checks the ground with a metal detector.
US to launch a “war on
terror”. The US invaded
Afghanistan to destroy
Al-Qaeda’s bases, and
then Iraq, searching for
weapons it thought could
be used against the West.

REFUGEE CAMPS

The United Nations refugee agency estimated that in 2013, an
average of more than 30,000 people a day left their homes in
the Middle East because of conflict and persecution. Many
refugees take shelter in camps – temporary shelters that offer
safety, while they wait to be resettled in other countries.

Fires in the desert
US stealth aircraft, which were almost invisible to enemy radar, flew over the Kuwaiti
desert where uncontrolled oil-well fires burned for more than 10 months.

Oil production

The Middle East has the
largest oil reserves in the
world and many Middle
Eastern countries produce
and export oil. Although the
global demand for oil has
created wealth in the
Middle East, it has also led
to political and economic
interference by outside
powers who are keen to
keep the oil flowing.

Oil producer Safe space
The oil is transported across Refugee camps offer life-saving aid like food, water, and medicine
the desert by long pipelines, during an emergency, though conditions are extremely basic.
ready for exporting abroad.

1973 1979 1987–1993 1993 2000–2005

The Yom Kippur War Mutual recognition The First Intifada Oslo Accords The Second Intifada
Syria and Egypt US President Jimmy Carter worked During the early 1980s, Hosted by US President Bill Clinton, After Israeli Prime Minister
launched a surprise to improve relations between Israel Jewish settlements were Israeli and Palestinian leaders Ariel Sharon’s controversial
attack on Israeli-held and Egypt. Israel withdrew its forces established on Palestinian signed the first of the Oslo Accords, visit to the religious site of
lands to coincide with from the Sinai Peninsula and land, causing tensions in the designed to lead to a permanent Temple Mount in Jerusalem,
the Jewish holy day returned the land to Egypt, which occupied areas to worsen. peace deal with mutual recognition Palestinian demonstrations
of Yom Kippur. They became the first Arab country to Palestinian Arabs in the between Israel and the PLO. escalated into rioting, and
hoped to win back officially recognize Israel’s existence. West Bank and Gaza later suicide attacks, rocket
territory they had lost launched the Intifada launches, and sniper fire
to Israel during the (meaning “popular uprising”) targeted at Israeli soldiers and
Six-Day War, but Israel against Israeli occupation citizens. Israel responded with
halted the advance. with riots, strikes, boycotts, deadly force. This Second
and demonstrations. Israel Intifada cost more than 4,000
was accused of using Israeli and Palestinian lives.
extreme force in response.



Postcolonial
Africa

During the 1950s and 1960s, African
countries gained independence from
their colonial rulers. For some
Africans, this meant new freedoms
and opportunities straight away, but
most nations faced huge challenges
over the following decades.

Many countries experienced civil wars,
and different ethnic groups fought among
each other. Dictators seized power and
were then reluctant to let go, ruling for
decades through violence and fear. In
South Africa, the government favoured
the minority white population in a system
known as Apartheid (“separateness”).
Under this system, black people faced
many restrictions, such as where they
could live and work, and had fewer
political rights than white people. However,
in the 21st century, the future of Africa
looks brighter, with many nations having
greater political and financial stability.

1960–1965 1963
Extreme violence The Organization of
erupted in the Congo African Unity was
(now the Democratic established to encourage
Republic of Congo) cooperation between
after the country African nations and
gained independence to fight colonialism
across the continent.
from Belgium.
1975–2002
1971–1979 The Republic of Angola
Idi Amin, president of became independent of
Uganda, led an eight- Portugal but descended
into a civil war that
year reign of terror lasted many decades.
with widespread
violence until he May 1994
was overthrown. Nelson Mandela
became the first black
April–July 1994 president of South
In Rwanda, up to a Africa, ending 300
years of white rule.
million Tutsis, an
ethnic group, were 2018
killed by the Hutus, Ethiopia became
the fastest-growing
a neighbouring economy in Africa.
ethnic group.

2004
Wangari Maathai, a

Kenyan feminist,
won the Nobel

Peace Prize for her
work to empower
young women.

The first free elections in South Africa
In an election rally, crowds show their
support for Nelson Mandela, who would
become the first black president of
South Africa in 1994. Mandela’s election
marked the end of Apartheid.

198 the modern world MODERN ASIA The South Korean car company Hyundai has five separate factories,
which together cover an area the size of 700 football pitches.

BOOMING ECONOMIES Modern Asia

Between the early 1960s and the 1990s, many Asian countries Since World War II, several countries in Asia have
experienced rapid economic growth and fast improvement in developed wealthy, thriving economies. For the first
standards of living. They exported cheap-to-produce, high-tech time in modern history, parts of Asia are richer than
goods to the rest of the world and attracted foreign investment. Europe and quickly catching up with the US.
In 1997, the continent suffered a setback during the Asian
financial crisis, when foreign investment declined, but it After the devastation of World War II, many Asian countries
recovered quickly. needed to recover and rebuild. They set out to strengthen their
economies by supporting the growth of industries that used
1300 Economic growth their own natural resources, such as coal and oil, rather than
1200 This graph shows the relying on foreign imports. Governments put money into
1100 economic growth of some improving infrastructure – systems of communication, power,
1000 Asian countries from 1980 and transport – then shifted their focus to high-tech industries.
to 2005. Despite dips, the
900 lines continue upwards. JAPAN
800
Percentage of growth 700 After World War II, Japan concentrated on producing cotton, coal,
600 and steel to fund its recovery and rebuild its economy. The Japanese
500 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Key education system produced highly skilled workers and gradually the
400 Hong Kong country began to focus on making high-tech products. Japan
300 South Korea suffered a recession in the 1990s and economic growth has since
200 Singapore slowed, but it is still one of the richest countries in the world.
100

0
1980

Year

SINGAPORE Sony Walkman
Japanese company Sony sold
Singapore gained its independence in 1965, after breaking away 200 million of these portable
from neighbouring Malaysia. Since then, the tiny nation has cassette tape players around
dramatically transformed, attracting investment from abroad the world after they were
and becoming a global financial centre. released in 1979.

The Port of Singapore Modern technology
Sheltered from the ocean and deep enough for large ships, Singapore’s main
harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world. Each year, more than 130,000 Japan is a world leader in
ships visit the port, with a vessel arriving or leaving every two to three minutes. technology, pioneering
advances in electronics and
robotics. It is home to many
world-famous brands, such as
electronics companies Sony and
Nintendo and car companies
Mitsubishi and Toyota, whose
products are popular with
consumers around the world.

Honda Asimo
Created in 2000, the
Honda Asimo (short for

“Advanced Step in
Innovative Mobility”)
was the first robot to

walk on two legs.

Nintendo Game Boy
Nintendo sold more than
18 million copies of its
handheld games console,
which was released in 1989.