This text attempts to discuss the 20th century thematically, balance pre-war and post-war history, integrate social, cultural and economic history into political history and bring the story to the end of the millennium. The work is based on a selection of readings including original works by scholars, extracts from academic journals and classic works. The readings are grouped around the major themes of the ideological struggle in the war and revolution, the blurring state boundaries and the growth of international organizations and transitional economic activities and the new agenda at the end of the millennium including third world concerns and values, ecology and women and young people. Each section is introduced by an essay setting the context, summarizing the period and containing the latest historiography and political thinking.