Historical Assessment of the 20th Century - Essay Example

Critical Issue Paper Four Most and commentators perceive the 20th century as: the most radical, the most heroic, the most wicked, the most awesome, the most exciting, the most trivializing, the most destructive, the most inventive, etc.1 Such colorful adjectives and descriptions of the said century is attributed to the fact that the 20th century saw two world wars which depicted brutality and tyranny from leaders like Stalin and Hitler. But on a lighter and positive side, the 20th century was likewise marked with great discoveries, inventions, cosmopolitanism, womens rights, growth of civil society movements and a sense of responsibility for the development of science and growth of global economy.2 The Second World War proved to be a period of technological breakthrough according to Weinberg. In his book “A world at Arms: A Global History of World War II,” he related that technological improvements such as radio direction finders and sonar, along with the breaking of the Germans Enigma Code, improved the Allies defenses against their Axis counterparts. He goes on to say that the Germans were able to design new types of submarines, which were faster and could stay submerged longer, however said submarines “did not become operational before the end of the war.”3 __________ 1 Terry Boardman. “What Was the 20th Century?” A lecture delivered on 17th March 2000 in Stourbridge, England. http://www.monju.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/20th%cent.htm (accessed September 9, 2008), p.1. 2Ethan Zuckerman, “Steven Pinker on the Decline of Violence:” Worldchanging 2007 March 8. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006259.html (accessed September 9, 2008), 1-2. 3Gerhard L. Weinberg, A World At Arms: A Global History of World War II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp.122-133. In relation to the above statements, historian writer Richard Overy in his book “Why the Allies Won” also made references that the last World War of the 20th century (WWII), showed that American technology and ingenuity combined with correct and better tactics won the war for the Allied forces despite the fact that the Axis nations had the backing of German engineering ingenuity. Overy reasons out that the Allies whose military capacity in the beginning was inferior compared to the Axis forces, integrated technology and logistics with moral force. He detailed facts that the nations which comprise the Allied Grand Coalition succeeded in World War II because they knew that it “was a life-and-death struggle for fundamental values.”4 Values that are needed in order to establish a better society. Moreover, Keegan in his timeless masterpiece “The Battle for History: Re-Fighting World War II” says that the Second World War, which was generally acclaimed as a “wonderful” period in history, should be examined closely because there is nothing wonderful about the causalities of the war, which left millions dead along with economic and cultural devastations that made it difficult for nations to regain their financial footings.5 During World War II, many civilians died due to starvation, diseases, genocide and massacres. Eighty-five percent (85%) of the total deaths for the said war were approximately from the Allied side (mostly Soviet and Chinese). Most death happened in Axis occupied territories – the most notorious of which was the Holocaust where German atrocities of systemically killing Jews were done in Nazi concentration camps. Prisoners of War (POW) in __________ 4Richard Overy, Why the Allies Won. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1995, p. 137 and 211. 5John Keegan, The Battle for History: Re-Fighting World War II. New York: Vintage Books, 1995, pp. 9-12. Japanese prisoner-of-war-camps likewise had high death rates because these were made into Japanese prisoner-of-war-camps likewise had high death rates because these were made into labor camps that forced prisoners to work under extreme conditions with little or no food and water. The Second World War may bring home the realization that modernization brings forth incomprehensible violence. And that living in the world of the primitive people would have been better since it portrayed a life of simplicity and harmony. Likewise, it would seem that the past was more peaceful and tranquil. Contrary to these thoughts, Zuckermans article - “Steven Pinker on the Decline of Violence” related that Harvard Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker said: “Were probably living in the most peaceful time of our species existence...” This statement was backed by interrelating that the early people who led primitive lives were hunters who uses force and barbaric modes to acquire land, women and status in the societies that were formed then. Professor Pinker backs up the aforementioned subject by citing that the decline of violence is a “fractal phenomenon” where the violent nature of man has been decreased and refined as centuries, decades and years passed by.6 For J.M. Roberts, the 20th century enjoyed great progress; “it was just he bloody course that the world has traveled to get here from there” that makes it so astounding. He further said that change is the foremost characteristics of the 20th century. It cannot be denied that barbaric actions do occur, “but decency too won victories.” He goes on to relate that “great evils cannot be launched and carried through without deliberate concealment, denial or attempts at plausible than before __________ 6Ibid, Zuckerman, p.2. justification.” Roberts make a stand that international law and human rights are more visible now. In his book - “Twentieth Century: The History of the World, 1901-2000”, J.M. Roberts listed some significant features of the 20th century as follows:7 1. Conflicts and bloodshed are predictable since the world is still divided by nationality, various culture, contrasting ideologies and different economic achievements. 2. Scientific discoveries shaped events in the fields of transportation, communications, health care, information technology, weapons and agriculture. 3. In Europe, there was a massive decrease in the hold of religions. 4. Expectations have altered pragmatically, where the idea of most people is that general living circumstances will continuously improve and be better. 5. Two world wars cost millions of lives and affected billions after its wake. 6. Ancient hatreds continuously emerged in nations in Africa, in the middle east and in Asia, which are normally fought all over again in bloody battle and costing lives. 7.Expectations and prophecies made a century ago “turned out in due course to fall so short of actuality,” hence attempts at such predictions today are considered to be ludicrous. In congruence to Roberts listings of the 20th century achievements, Zuckerman stated that definitely, the 20th century is one of the most significant period in mankinds history since it witnessed the: 1) revolution in communication technology that led to sophisticated innovations in medical techniques; 2) revolution in the development of new materials and the diffusion of __________ 7J.M. Roberts, Twentieth Century: The History of the World, 1901-2000, FUTURECASTS Online Magazine Book Review, September 01, 2001. http://www.futurecasts.com/Book%20 review%2014.htm (accessed September 10, 2008), pp.13-18. information technology; 3) progress in transportation and communication which made lifes pace faster and the world a smaller place to live in; 4) the creation of powerful drugs, diagnostic tools and medical procedures that reduced mortality rates and heightened the quality of life. To further substantiate that the 20th century indeed has been in more ways than one, an impressive period of time, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), represented by engineer/astronaut Neil Armstrong announced the twenty engineering achievements that “had the greatest impact on the quality of life in the 20th century.” The following is the complete list of achievements announced by Mr. Armstrong: 1. Electrification – electricity that provides light and power to the modern world. 2. Automobile- manufacturing of reliable and affordable cars for transportation. 3. Airplane - far off destinations are made accessible through flying. 4. Safe and abundant water – prevention of water borne diseases which increased life expectancy. 5. Electronics- the production of vacuum tubes and transistors considerably made life modern. 6. Radio and television paved way for better access to information and entertainment. 7. Agricultural Mechanization – improvement of food supply production by making large scale manufacturing safer and food cost less. 8. Computers – the center of technical operations that vastly improved managerial systems and operations. 9. Telephone – changed the way how personal and business communication is conducted. 10. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – extends shelf life of food, beverages and medicines. Also plays an essential role in health care delivery and subsistence. 11. Interstate Highways – allows a more convenient access to delivery of goods and supplies, including personal access to vantage points of destinations. 12. Space Exploration – widened mans horizons and established 60,000 products on earth. 13. Internet – pave way to incomparable global information and communication access. 14. Imaging Technologies – modified and improved medical diagnostics. 15. Household Appliances – eliminated hands-on backbreaking tasks for household chores, especially for women. 16. Health Technologies – mass production of medicines and other needed implants reduced mortality rate and enhanced health. 17. Petroleum and Gas Technologies – source of energy that provide power to the world. 18. Laser and Fiber Optics – production improved communications, non-invasive surgery, etc. 19. Nuclear Technologies – innovations that led to splitting the atom has provided a new source of energy. 20. High Performance Materials - with better quality that are lighter, stronger and more adjustable. Still as per Zuckermans article on the decline of violence, the introduction of changes or innovations generally happen for a multiple of reasons that includes greed, ambition, conviction and accident. But topping everything else are the two human primary impulses that propels or push man to pursue such developments to the extreme, and these are: 1) the ambition to conquer time by spending the least possible amount of time in activities and 2) the obsessive desire to get the most out of every activity with expended effort – usually termed as efficiency. Having perceived the 20th century as one of the most violent times and milestone of improvement for the development in the history of man, it could be said that the ideas and assertions made by the various authors that were mentioned herein are relevant to the issue at hand. Weinberg and Overy have pointed out in their respective books how the Second World War happened on the European and Asian fronts. They mentioned details regarding how improved technology aided the Allies in their quest for success in the war. Keegan on the other hand took on the note of looking at the consequences of war – on how the violence can claim lives and affect the lives of those who survive the death tolls. Zuckerman, Roberts and the NAEs accounting for the achievements of the 20th century is based on facts and study made by experts who took time to do researches and and incorporate their findings with the current events of the immediate future. The authors profoundly interrelated history and phenomenon that lead to necessary changes and improvements, which mankind is enjoying at present. My thoughts on this particular issue is that despite difficulty in economic recovery after a war, it could be said that the general outcome was mostly positive. The scientific and engineering discoveries in the 20th century have helped improved our lives at present and are much needed in order to thrive in this fast paced world. While its true that violence still occurs in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, etc, - I believe compassion and empathy with sound values and judgment should start within our homes and ourselves to avoid misunderstandings and settle little disputes with proper decorum and respect. Bibliography About.com, Top 20 Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century: Composites and Plastics (2000). http://composite.about.com/od/inthenews/l/blnae1.htm (accessed September 12, 2008). Boardman, Terry “What Was the 20th Century?” A lecture delivered on 17th March 2000 in Stourbridge, England. http://www.monju.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/20th%cent.htm (accessed September 9, 2008). Keegan, John The Battle for History: Re-Fighting World War II. New York: Vintage Books, 1995. Overy, Richard Why the Allies Won. New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1995. Roberts, J.M. Twentieth Century: The History of the World, 1901-2000, FUTURECASTS Online Magazine Book Review, September 01, 2001. http://www.futurecasts.com/Book%20 review%2014.htm (accessed September 10, 2008). Weinberg, Gerhard L. A World At Arms: A Global History of World War II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Zuckerman, Ethan “Steven Pinker on the Decline of Violence:” Worldchanging 2007 March 8. http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006259.html (accessed September 9, 2008). Read More