A group of five American historians attempt to summarize the grand sweep of the political, economic, and social forces that swept the world in the 20th century. Thematically organized, the material frequently visits events before 1900 in order to explain processes that had begun before the century dawned. Although in any work of such broad scope important events will be neglected, the authors do an admirable job of following developments in the developed West and the underdeveloped South with equal attention, discussing interactions between the two when they are pertinent, such as in their discussions of imperialism, colonialism, and nationalist independence struggles. Communist and other revolutions are considered, as is the competition between competing economic systems. The development of political oppositions of the New Left in Europe and America and the Islamic Fundamentalists in the Muslim world are examples of developments within nations considered. Chapters are also devoted to considerations of feminism, war and peace, the developments of science, population growth, and the dangers of globalization. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less