The course examines major social, cultural, political, and technological events, trends, and movements in the world during the twentieth century. Topics covered include: Russian Revolution, Communism, World Wars I and II, industrial and technological advances and trends, the demise of colonialism, the Cold War, the Middle East, Vietnam, social and cultural trends in the 1950'92s and 1960'92s, and the downfall of the Soviet Union. It is hoped that class members will go beyond an understanding of history as simply “who, where and when,” and begin to understand why.