The 20th century began slowly, to the ticking of grandfather clocks and the stately rhythms of progress. Thanks to science, industry and moral philosophy, mankind's steps had at last been guided up the right path. The century of steam was about to give way to the century of oil and electricity. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, only 41 years old in 1900, proposed a scientific basis for the notion that progress was gradual but inevitable, determined by natural law.
And everybody thought that the development would continue in the small steps that had marked the progress of the 19th century. Inventions like the railroad or the telegraph or the typewriter had enabled people to get on with their ordinary lives a little more conveniently. No one could have guessed then that, in the century just beginning, new ideas would burst upon the world with a force and frequency that would turn this stately march of progress into a long distance, free-for-all sprint. Thrust into this race, the children of the 20th century would witness more change in their daily existence and environment than anyone else who had ever walked the planet.
This high-velocity attack of new ideas and technologies seemed to ratify older dreams of a perfectible life on earth, of an existence in which the shocks of nature had been tamed. But the unleashing of unparalleled progress was also accompanied by something quite different: a massive regression toward savagery. If technology endowed humans with Promethean aspirations and powers, it also gave them the means to exterminate one another. Assassinations in Sarajevo in 1914 lit a spark that set off an unprecedented explosion of destruction and death. The Great War did more than devastate a generation of Europeans. It set the tone - the political, moral and intellectual temper - for much that followed.
Before long the Great War received a new name - World War I. The roaring 1920s and the Depression years of the 1930s proved to be merely a prelude to World War II. Largely hidden during that war was an awful truth that called into question progress and the notion of human nature itself.
But civilization was not crushed by the two great wars, and the ruins provided the stimulus to build a way of life again. To a degree previously unheard of and perhaps unimaginable, the citizens of the 20th century felt free to reinvent themselves. In that task they were assisted by two profound developments - psychoanalysis and the Bomb.
Vocabulary
stately - величественный, величавый
thrust - толчок
high-velocity - большая скорость
savagery - варварство
aspiration - стремление
exterminate - уничтожать
assassination - убийство политического или общественного деятеля
spark - искра
explosion - взрыв
destruction - разрушение, уничтожение
devastate - опустошить
roaring - бурный
Depression - кризис 1929-32 гг.
Questions
1. How did the 20th century begin?
2. What guided mankind's steps up the right path?
3. What did Charles Darwin's theory of evolution propose?
4. What did everybody think of progress?
5. What had inventions like the railroad, telegraph and type writer enabled people to do?
6. What was unthinkable for people?
7. What was the unparalleled progress accompanied by?
8. Why did the Great War receive a new name?
9. What proved to be merely a prelude to World War II?
10. How did civilization develop after the two great wars?
Другие работы по теме:
The Cocktail Party TSEliot Essay Research Paper
Eliot is considered to be one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His works have been admired greatly. In his play “The Cocktail Party”, Eliot’s focus of attention is on what he calls ‘the malady of the 20th century people’.He explores the various aspects of people’s lives concentrating on their frivolity & pettiness in particular.He also explores 2 kinds of love that are not necessarily better than the other but are equally important to society ; that of romantic love & supernatural love.
How Has Film Influenced Lifestyles And Human
Behavior In The 20Th Century Essay, Research Paper How Has Film Influenced Lifestyles and Human Behavior in the 20th Century? During the 20th century, film has been a powerful media in which to influence people’s lifestyles and human behavior. Film is for people who do not enjoy reading or other more stimulating leisure and want to be entertained or escape from everyday life.
Church And State Essay Research Paper The
Church And State Essay, Research Paper The issue of church and state has become more important in the 20th century. There are many reasons for this, because in this century people are becoming more outspoken then in earlier centuries. People are now willing to stand up for their beliefs and views, as in the past people weren?t brave enough to stand up and speak up on how they felt.
Totalitarianism Essay Research Paper I IntroductionPrint sectionTotalitarianism
Totalitarianism Essay, Research Paper I. Introduction Print section Totalitarianism, in political science, system of government and ideology in which all social, political, economic, intellectual, cultural, and spiritual activities are subordinated to the purposes of the rulers of a state. Several important features distinguish totalitarianism, a form of autocracy peculiar to the 20th century, from such older forms as despotism, absolutism, and tyranny.
Charles Darwin Essay Research Paper Charles DarwinOne
Charles Darwin Essay, Research Paper Charles Darwin One of the most famous names in science and in the economy today, is Charles Darwin. Darwin is best known for his contributions in science; his famous theory of evolution. He also contributed to the market and command economy with his belief, “survival of the fittest.”
Crimonology Essay Research Paper If you look
Crimonology Essay, Research Paper If you look up the word criminology in the dictionary it would be defined as a scientific study of crime as a social phenomenon. Social phenomenon? Say what?
644 Essay Research Paper What Does Genocide
644 Essay, Research Paper What Does Genocide Mean? The era of mass murder might be given as a name for the 20th century. Never in the history of the world have so many millions of people been deliberately killed since 1900. These millions weren’t all because of war. They were victims of genocide: the deliberate killings of racial, religious, ethnic, or political groups.
Nuclear Medicine Essay Research Paper Nuclear MedicineThere
Nuclear Medicine Essay, Research Paper Nuclear Medicine There are many things to be said about Nuclear Medicine. During the 20th century the world has seen many changes in medicine. One of the most ingenious creations of the century in the health field is Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. It is easily argued that modern medicine is the greatest accomplishment in human history1.
Picasso
’s Guernica Essay, Research Paper GUERNICA Considered to be one of the most influential artist of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso, transformed the way artists see the world through his exploration of forms in Cubism. One of Picasso s most prolific works, “Guernica”, intensely combines rich visual imagery as well as powerful symbolism to successfully convey the plight of war in a universal manner and could also be considered as one of the most important paintings in the 20th century.
H G Wells Essay Research Paper H
H G Wells Essay, Research Paper H G WellsHerbert George Wells English author and political philosopher, most famous for his science-fantasy novels with their prophetic depictions of the triumphs of technology as well as the horrors of 20th-century warfare. Wells was born September 21, 1866, in Bromley, Kent, and educated at the Normal School of Science in London, to which he won a scholarship.
Why Art Changed So Drastically Essay Research
Paper Why Art Changed So Drastically in the 20th Century Art in the 20th century changed drastically from that of the past. Attitudes began to change about what art was. The new attitude was that art it is what anyone elects to call art. It seems to me that people began to use their imagination more. They no longer felt the need to paint things realistically, they began to paint emotionally.
Dress Code Essay Research Paper At the
Dress Code Essay, Research Paper At the beginning of the 20th century there wasn’t much discussion about the dress code in schools. During that time kids weren’t dressing so provocative. Now that we are so close to the 21st century. There is a big controversy between the students and the schools about the dress code especially in public schools.
Nationalism The Cause Of Wwi Essay Research
Paper Nationalism: The Cause of World War I In the rising part of the 20th century many issues come to mind, when it comes to what was the cause of WWI. Nationalism can be described as one s pride in their county or state. Loyalty was important in the early 20th century and that is why Nationalism was the cause of WWI.
Pablo Picasso Essay Research Paper No artist
Pablo Picasso Essay, Research Paper No artist has dominated the 20th century in the way Pablo Picasso has. This extraordinarily gifted Spanish artist, working most of his life in France, produced a voluminous body of work in a variety of styles that influenced nearly every major trend of the first half of this century.
Cloning Essay Research Paper CloningCloning is the
Cloning Essay, Research Paper Cloning Cloning is the production of duplicate copies of genetic material, cells, or entire multicellular living organisms. The copies are referred to as clones. Cloning occurs naturally and is also engineered by human beings. The possibility that people might be cloned from the cells of a single adult human being had long been a subject primarily of fantasy and science fiction but became very definite at the end of the 20th century.
Untitled Essay Research Paper H G WellsHerbert
Untitled Essay, Research Paper H G WellsHerbert George Wells English author and political philosopher, mostfamous for his science-fantasy novels with their prophetic depictions ofthe triumphs of technology as well as the horrors of 20th-century warfare.Wells was born September 21, 1866, in Bromley, Kent, and educated at theNormal School of Science in London, to which he won a scholarship.
Government And Morality In 20Th Century America
Essay, Research Paper Government and Morality in 20th Century America On July 4, 1776, a general congress of the English colonies of the Americas assembled in Philadelphia and combined their experience, education, and frustration to compose the Declaration of Independence. This document, which even today tells the story of how our country was started, speaks of the religious and moral persecution that our forefathers were forced to bear for years upon years.
Sun YatSen Essay Research Paper Sun YatSen
Sun Yat-Sen Essay, Research Paper Sun Yat-Sen helped the growth of Nationalism during the early 20th century. After experiencing and studying in Hawaii, he got a taste of what the western world was like. Sun wanted to help westernize China to keep up with the world s technology and economy. His goal was to nationalize China.
Europe 16001900 Essay Research Paper Europe 1600s1900sFrom
Europe 1600-1900 Essay, Research Paper Europe 1600s-1900s From the Romanov Dynasty of Russia in 1617 to the Second Socialist International in 1914 Europe underwent Scientific, , Industial, and political revolutons, which all contributed to a new europe being formed. Over the span these four centuries Eroupes changes were dramatical.
Romanticsm Essay Research Paper Romanticism in the
Romanticsm Essay, Research Paper Romanticism in the aspect of Nature Romanticism began in the mid-18th century and reached its height in the 19th century. It was limited to Europe and America although different compatriots donated to its birth and popularity. Romanticism as a movement declined in the late 19th century and early 20th century with the growing dominance of Realism in the arts and the rapid advancement of science and technology.
The Science Of Galileo Essay Research Paper
THE SCIENCE OF GALILEO The play Life of Galileo is considered a masterpiece and one of the most relevant plays of the 20th century. It addresses the social and political problems of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Animal Testing Essay Research Paper The American
Animal Testing Essay, Research Paper The American Medical Association has stated that it believes that research-involving animals is essential to maintaining and improving the health of human beings. They point out that all advances in medical science in the 20th century, from antibiotics to organ transplants, has been achieved either directly or indirectly through the use of animals in laboratory experiments.
Impact Of Economics And Science During The
19Th Century Essay, Research Paper Steve Dohl 3/13/01 Pre IB His/Geo The impact of Economics and Science during the 19th Century In the period from c. 1850-1914 economics and science were changing the world and lifestyles. Adam Smith introduced the idea of capitalism and gave the idea that mercantilism is bad (‘lessie faire’).
Russia Essay Research Paper RussiaIn the 20th
Russia Essay, Research Paper Russia In the 20th century there have been many artistic movements that define the way we view art. In 1961 there was not a defining movement, but a transition to a contemporary style that would set the pace for the rest of the century. Many painters wanted to follow the form of avant-garde that took place nearly thirty years earlier.
Baseball Essay Research Paper Robinson Jackiefirst black
Baseball Essay, Research Paper Robinson, Jackie first black baseball player in the U.S. major leagues during the 20th century, an infielder and outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League from 1947 through 1956.
Religion And Science Essay Research Paper Religion
Religion And Science Essay, Research Paper Religion and Science Is Science and Religion really such an adversary? I believe that it is a very touchy subject, in which it can go either way. Some people may claim that science and religion are two very similar subjects, while other may view it as two very different subjects of life.