All the century's major developments, from the height of the Imperial Era, through two World Wars, the reconstructon of Europe and on to the challenges of the post-Cold War era are covered in this book. This newly updated paperback edition updates Richard Overy's analytical text and takes the world from the pomp of Europe's imperial heyday and the cataclysm of the First World War through the Great Depression, the Second World War and the Cold War to the global uncertainties following the September 2001 attack on the US. Special attention is paid to the themes and challenges which have faced humanity throughout the century: the environment, health, science, leisure, terrorism and technology.