The 20th Century
The 20th Century
Page Updated December 2024
Africa's Diamond Wars A multi-part feature that presents the bright and dark aspects of diamonds. It examines the prosperity of Botswana and the connection between diamonds and guns in Angola. An audio special describes finding and losing a diamond in the Congo.
Collapse
of the USSR In-depth report from BBC News.
Genocide in the 20th Century An examination of seven major occurrences.
India and Pakistan to 1966 The end of British rule. Pakistan and partition. Democratic India. Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Economic and cultural developments. Border disputes. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."
Japan against China, to 1940 Japan recovers economically and tries to dominate China. Hirohito prefers peace. War between the Chinese and Japanese. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."
Japan and China, to 1936 Japan in Manchuria. Emperor Hirohito and other moderates. The Long March in China. Japan versus Chiang Kai-shek, Stalin and Mao Zedong. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."
Japan, Divinity and the Bomb, 1942- 45 Japanese patriotism and pursuit of virtue. The Allies advance. Japanese attitude on their homefront. The war's end. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."
NOVA: Russia's Nuclear Warriors Meet the men who defend Russia and maintain her strategic nuclear weapons. Get a glimpse at Russia's nuclear weapons establishment in this insightful report.
The Panama Canal This interactive site illuminates the history behind the canal's construction. Highlights include an extensive timeline that begins with 1502, when Christopher Columbus explored Panama in hopes of finding a route to the Pacific Ocean; an interactive map that highlights major landmarks along the canal; and a number of photographs and letters that detail the experiences of workers. This last portion of the exhibit is poignant; workers faced a number of daily dangers, including landslides, diseases, and accidents involving explosives. Tragically, an estimated 5,600 workers died during the construction of the canal. This well-crafted exhibition allows visitors to explore this complex history in depth.
The People's Republic of China The People's Republic begins. Mao and dispute with the Soviet Union. The great leap and fall. Cultural revolution. Deng Xiaoping and reforms. Tiananmen Square in 1989. From Frank E. Smitha's "World History."