I have question that I would really like answered, and although it might not have too much to do with WW2, it could depending on your answers. Here’s my question: What name would you guys give the 20th century? What name would you label or what name do you think the historians will give it 500 years from now? And why? (i.e. there was the dark ages, the renaissance…) The reason I say it could have a lot do with WW2 is because that war was most probably the most significant event of the past one hundred years. It was a turning point in our evolution and demonstrated the horrors mankind was capable of. Truly, those 6 years were more impactful (not a word, I know) than the other 94 years. Please help me out on this one guys. Thanks in advance. All feedback will be appreciated.
Interesting. It is difficult to put yourself in the place of someone 500 years ahead when you don't know what would happen in the next 500 years. But my thoughts on the subject are that despite there being two world wars in the 20th century I don't think it would be defined or named after them. There were huge wars in every century previous but the scale of the war was in some cases as global as the technology of the time would allow. I don't think too much happened an the world of the arts, architecture or culture except for the rise and fall of communisum and the polorization of cultures into east and west. But again, that has happened throughout history. This leaves the world of science and technology to define the century. In 100 years the world went from a vast globe with communications to most parts being measured in weeks and months to a time when you could be sat anyhwere in the world and talk, send copies of documents and video pictures to anywhere else in the world. This was helped by the advancement of space exploration and technology, which in it's turn was advanced by the development of practical, fast, electronic computers. The computer has allowed the design and calculations required to develop satellites, spacecraft and smaller, faster, cheaper computers. At the beginning of the century there were only mechanical 'arithmetical engines'. The first electronic computers were the size of a large room and now you get more power on a sliver of silicon. Things are going to get a lot smaller, faster and cheaper over the next couple of hundred years. The snowball is just going to keep on rolling. But it all started in the 20th century so I believe that the century will be defined as something like 'Computer Dawn' or 'Birth of Communications' or at the very least 'The Second Industrial Revolution', although somebody's got 495 years to think up a catchy name. Oh yes, and I did manage to mention WW2 in there somewhere
Very interesting question. I think the "Information Age" is the most appropriate moniker I've heard for the 20th century. From moving pictures to radio to tv to the computer, information became more and more readily accessible in the 1900's than ever before. It shaped our societies, and our culture. For the first time in history, imformation became more than just words, it became a commodity. And, not to ignore WWII, the wars of the 20th century not only provided improved communication technolgy as a by-product, but they increased the demand for information, and the demand for faster, more up-to-date reports.
I personally would take a lot of convincing that 1939-45 was substantially more significant historically than 1914-18, or indeed that the events of 1914-45 can be separated out into two distinct wars, rather than as separate phases of the same one. I do think though that future historians will see the 20th century as one where we over used resources and left a legacy of potentially crippling environmental problems for future generations to resolve. We will be seen as people who were not prepared to confront and tackle these issues. These issues may in future be seen as more significant than the 20th century wars.
Maybe the "Mechanized Century," since it was the century in which machines and mechanization moved from the rear to the forefront -- cars, planes, submarines, atomic power, rockets, satellites, computers, television...all these machines changed the world. It's a good question, though.
I agree with the term "Information Age" because technology developed really fast during the 20th century (Mostly because of the wars). Rockets were developed by the germans, radar was developed by the british and atomic bomb was developed by the americans. Wars really gave a big boost to the technology. After the wars however started the development of more peaceful things such as computers, televisions, internet, space travel etc. If the 20th century is not to be called "Information age" i guess i will be "Mechanized Century" then.
"Mankind invents the means of its own destruction" History Channel, Manhattan Project Commercial. All the goddam weapons!
I have to echo the Information or Technology age, something along those lines. Although I would have to say that certain sections of mankind did not and will never learn from either the first or second wars, that fact means that somwhere in the next 500 years I suspect a war that will make 1914 - 1918 and 1939 - 1945 look pale in comparison, and thats not to say I am trying to dismiss either war, but remember in 500 years WW I and II will I am sure appear quite tame to the future capabilities of mankind. Remember in the last 100 years (+ a bit more), we have invented flight, the car, computer, and I cant be fussed to write the whole list, but having advanced so far in such a short time so to speak, where will we be in 500 years? Massive advances I think. So my own remains that the stability of certain regions today is such that a global war will come again in the future with more devasting effects than could have bene imagined even at hiroshima and nagasaki. Pretty bleak outlook but there you go and off topic too
Well.. maybe I went too far off with the whole ''500 yrs from now", I think you guys know what I mean. It doesn't necessarily have to be 500, so don't take it too literally. I was just wondering what my time on Earth will be defined by after I die. Thx.. Information Age seems like the popular one, seeing as every major event of the past 100 yrs seem to be, in one way or another, dependant on the technological possibilites of it's specific time.
Originally posted by angie999@May 5 2005, 10:24 AM I personally would take a lot of convincing that 1939-45 was substantially more significant historically than 1914-18, or indeed that the events of 1914-45 can be separated out into two distinct wars, rather than as separate phases of the same one. I do think though that future historians will see the 20th century as one where we over used resources and left a legacy of potentially crippling environmental problems for future generations to resolve. We will be seen as people who were not prepared to confront and tackle these issues. These issues may in future be seen as more significant than the 20th century wars. [post=34016]Quoted post[/post] I agree that the two wars were parts I & II, but I think part II was much more significant historically. It was more a clash of cultures and ideologies than the first war and I think more was at stake. To lose the WWI was essentially about losing territory and pride. The extinction of entire races/countries was at stake in WWII. I think that the 20th century will be viewed as a modern renaissance... entire sub-cultures were established (movies & TV), long distant travel became possible for everyone, it became possible (partly as a consequence of the bloody wars) for many people to express themselves politically, culturally, environmentally, sexually... (and any other ...ally you care to name). And of course, there's the internet.
The Age of Awareness. Through the leaps forward in technology & information, the ability for all to access those leaps forward and share in most of them. While their have been wars etc, it was indeed the lucky century. Whether or not the "leaps" were good or bad, more changes occured through the 20th century than any other, and had the potential to assist mankind and allow the normal punter to be aware of what was happening in his/her world.
I think it has to be the century of technology for its impact on the world and mankind, not that man has stood still before.Over the last hundred years the rapid advance in technology has changed the face of the earth and the way mankind have changed to embrace the technology for advantage and threat. No country can exist in isolationism and be a journey too far. Technology has given birth to the availabilty of the real life use and recording of information from every corner of the planet.For mankind it has meant that from the start of the 20th century, events have been increasingly catalogued more accurately than ever before as what we term history.
I think "Revolutionary Century" would be a good name for the last 100 years, because of all the social and technological changes. Starting with the first flight in 1904, Einstein's Theory of Relativity 1905, the world wars, decolonization after WW II, etc... Maybe the next century will see even faster change making this moot.
