I remember how disturbed I felt when my history professor at Ohio State pointed out to me that (at least in 1983) "all history stops at 1945." "But why?" I inquired. "Surely there have been significant achievements since then." He went on to explain to me how history takes time to write. How man needs distance and perspective from events in order to be able to properly place them in the grand scope of history. History takes time. Based on this premise, it is certainly premature to look back on the past century and attempt to paint it with broad historical strokes. Still, we can certainly appreciate the events of the past 100 years and develop a sense of just how far we've come. For these reasons I offer you this week top WWW links on the 20th century. You can find additional resources on the advancements in the Arts and Sciences in the 20th century at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Innovative-Teaching/message/213. Thanks to Jerry for his recommendations!

• Africa - http://www.geographia.com/indx06.htm
  Geographia's survey of the dark continent, looking at history and modern nations in this quickly changing, evolving political climate; great layout - attractive and easy to navigate.
• American Cultural History - http://www.nhmccd.edu/contracts/lrc/kc/decades.html
  Put together by reference librarians at Kingwood College, this site is a wonderful summary of the century by decade, with quick facts, narrative history and digital images; nice breakdown of different aspects of American culture within each decade too.
• Auschwitz Alphabet - http://www.spectacle.org/695/ausch.html
  This is a reflection on the inhumanity of a WWII concentration camp through significant terms listed alphabetically and linked to more extensive information; excellent for secondary students.
• Atomic Archive - http://www.atomicarchive.com/index.shtml
  Subtitled the "history, science and consequences of the atomic bomb," this site provides a comprehensive look at the development, use and impact of atomic weapons in the twentieth century - superbly done and nicely documented.
• The Avalon Project: 20th Century Documents - http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/20th.htm
  This segment of the awesome Yale University site houses virtual versions of important documents of the twentieth century from around the world; there's everything here from the Agreement Between the United States and Cuba for the Lease of Lands for Coaling and Naval stations to the Hamas Covenant.
• The Cold War - http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/
  This online extension of the CNN production of the post-WWII era and the tension between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. covers a variety of angles and perspectives in a multimedia format perfect for older students.
• Development of Western Civilization: Recent Times: 1945-Present - http://history.evansville.net/recent.html
  Part of Nancy Mautz' Creative Impulse, this clean outline format examines the post-WWII world through history and art: people, places, events, fads, trends and social movements all quick loading and nicely researched.
• Internet Modern History Source Book - http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html
  This is an incredibly exhaustive resource from Fordham University covering almost any facet of history imaginable from the Protestant reformation through the 20th century with links that are second to none.
• Latin America - http://lanic.utexas.edu/
  Here's a nice central location for examination of cultures, histories, resources, even current events for all of North, Central and South America in a directory format. Great for secondary student research projects.
• The Olympic Movement - http://www.fhw.gr/projects/olympics/revival/
  A wonderful look at the revival of the Olympic movement beginning with the turn of the last century; clickable navigation allows you to pan back as far as you like through the ancient Olympic tradition to give students the "big picture" of the Olympic ideals.
• Russia and Communism - http://www.mrdowling.com/707russia.html
  An excellent set of resources from Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport covering the revolution, important leaders, Marx, Solzhenitsyn, Gorbachev and the arms race; see also The Face of Russia.
• World War I: trenches on the Web - http://www.worldwar1.com/
  This site sets the standard for all other pages on the web about "the war to end all wars" including Selected Historical Entries, The Arts and the Great War, The Soldier's Experience, Life on the Homefront, First Hand Accounts, Keeping the Memory Alive and Documenting the Great War.
• World War II: Modern World History - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/modern/
  The BBC presents this Shockwave-based WWII site that covers political and social events from the end of WWI through WWII in a manner that is second to no one. There's a clickable timeline, an interactive quiz and teacher tips, too.
  

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