20th Century History & Advancements

South African Apartheid

Apartheid was a system of racial segregation in South Africa, more severe than the Jim Crow South in the United States. The white population, consisting of British and Dutch (Boers), controlled the black African population, restricting them to limited land.

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  • Land ownership before the end of apartheid:

    • Whites: 88% of the land

    • White population: Approximately 20%

The system was widely considered unfair and unjust. Apartheid ended in the early 1990s, with Nelson Mandela becoming president.

Creation of Bangladesh

The creation of East Pakistan occurred in 1949, following the creation of India. Pakistan was divided into West Pakistan and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

  • East and West Pakistan: Predominantly Muslim areas of the Indian Subcontinent.

  • East Pakistan: Broke away from West Pakistan in 1971 to form Bangladesh.

Soviet War in Afghanistan

The Soviet war in Afghanistan took place from 1979 to 1989, resulting in a costly failure for the Soviet Union, both militarily and financially. It led to the rise of the Mujahideen, some of whom later formed the Taliban.

Solidarity Movement in Poland

The Solidarity movement in Poland was an independent trade union that fought for workers' rights and political reform. It inadvertently led to the end of communism in Poland, triggering a domino effect in Eastern Europe and ultimately contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Dissolution of Yugoslavia

After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, Yugoslavia experienced ethnic conflicts as groups like Croatians sought independence from dominant Serbians. Other groups included Albanians in Kosovo and Bosnians in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbs committed ethnic genocide against some groups, leading to a war in the mid-1990s, resulting in Yugoslavia breaking up into several smaller countries. Slobodan Milosevic was among those tried for war crimes against humanity.

Rwandan Genocide

In 1994, ethnic genocide occurred in Rwanda. The Tutsis, who had more political power under Belgian rule, were attacked by the Hutus, the larger population group. The Tutsis fought back, leading to a bloody conflict. UN troops were sent in. The movie Hotel Rwanda depicts this event.

Medical Advancements in the 20th Century

Significant medical advancements include:

  • Polio vaccine (1950s)

  • Antibiotics (from the 1920s)

  • Open heart surgery (mid-20th century)

  • Organ transplants

Other advancements include brain surgery.

Asian Tigers

The "Asian Tigers" or "Little Tigers" are countries that experienced significant economic growth and industrialization in the second half of the 20th century. They developed various tech industries and became wealthy.

  • List of Asian Tigers:

    • South Korea

    • Taiwan

    • Singapore

    • Hong Kong (now part of Mainland China)

Globalization

Globalization is the growing global economic, cultural, and political integration and interaction. It includes a globalized economy, culture, products, goods, advertisements, media, and entertainment.