In this chapter, we shall talk about the history of the world in the first
half of the 20th century, the causes and consequences of the two World Wars and
the creation of an institution like the United Nations to ensure world peace and
development.
Eric Hobsbawm, a historian, called the 20th century ‘The Age of Extremes’.
On one hand, Fascism was growing strong because of its ideas of unquestioned
power and hatred for other people. On the other hand, the need for democracy
was also growing. The average life expectancy rate was growing higher because of new
discoveries in the field of medicine. Literacy levels also became high i.e. more
people had access to better education. New art forms like movies also became known.
In the field of Science, new discoveries were made about life and atoms. More than
hundred countries became independent all over the world.
Many great experiments happened in the 20th century. In some countries, socialist
societies came up. In Socialist societies, people lived with Equality & Fraternity.
Some countries adopted Liberal Democracy where people had political liberty and a
Capitalist economy.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the world was divided into developed
industrialised countries of the West (including Britain, USA, Germany, France,
Italy, etc) and colonized countries of Asia, and Africa. These countries were under
the control of developed nations. The industrialised countries had split into two
enemy groups or blocks. Germany, Austria and Hungary were on one side and Britain,
France and Russia were on the
