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The '''20th century''' (1901-2000) has been called "The American Century" and "The Bloodiest Century", because during most of it [[America]] was fighting wars for [[democracy]]. The 20th century was the century of [[World War I]], [[World War II]], [[Korea]], [[Vietnam]], the Iran-Iraq War, and [[Iraq]], as well as smaller conflicts such as [[Rwanda]] and the [[Falkland Islands]].

The '''20th century''' (1901-2000) has been called "The American Century" and "The Bloodiest Century", because during most of it [[America]] was fighting wars for [[democracy]]. The 20th century was the century of [[World War I]], [[World War II]], [[Korea]], [[Vietnam]], the Iran-Iraq War, and [[Iraq]], as well as smaller conflicts such as [[Rwanda]] and the [[Falkland Islands]].

However, the 20th century was also a century of inventions. The electronic [[computer]] was invented in the 20th century, and popularized by pioneers like [[Bill Gates]] of [[Microsoft]] and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak of Apple Computers. Many inventions that we take for granted today, such as antibiotics, plastic, SCUBA gear, the transistor, the microwave oven, radar, polio vaccine, the airplane, and the cellular phone appeared in the 20th Century.<ref>http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/1900a.shtml</ref>

However, the 20th century was also a century of inventions. The electronic [[computer]] was invented in the 20th century, and popularized by pioneers like [[Bill Gates]] of [[Microsoft]] and [[Steve Jobs]] and [[Steve Wozniak]] of [[Apple Computer]]s. Many inventions that we take for granted today, such as [[antibiotics]], [[plastic]], [[SCUBA]] gear, the [[transistor]], the [[microwave oven]], [[radar]], polio [[vaccine]], the [[airplane]], and the [[cellular phone]] appeared in the 20th Century.<ref>http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/1900a.shtml</ref>

On the other hand, some inventions, like the [[telegraph]] and the [[steamship]], became obsolete and all but disappeared.

On the other hand, some inventions, like the [[telegraph]] and the [[steamship]], became obsolete and all but disappeared.

==Independence==

==Independence==

A major theme of the twentieth century was the decline of the worldwide empires of the previous century. [[Australia]] became independent on January 1, 1901. The end of [[World War 1]] led to independence for several European countries such as [[Poland]] and [[Hungary]]. The following two decades saw independence for [[Egypt]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Iraq]], among others, but the Second World war weakened the colonial powers so much that they granted independence to most of their colonies. [[India]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Israel]] were among ten countries gaining independence in the 1940s, became independent first, followed by a dozen [[Africa]]n states in 1960, and nearly every remaining African and Caribbean state in the two following decades. By 1980 [[Hong Kong]] (British) was the only overseas possession with more than one million inhabitants. Finally the 1990s saw the breakup of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Yugoslavia]] - eighteen new countries were founded in a few years after forty years of European stability.

A major theme of the twentieth century was the decline of the worldwide empires of the previous century. [[Australia]] became independent on January 1, 1901. The end of [[World War 1]] led to independence for several European countries such as [[Poland]] and [[Hungary]]. The following two decades saw independence for [[Egypt]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Iraq]], among others, but the Second World war weakened the colonial powers so much that they granted independence to most of their colonies. [[India]], [[Indonesia]] and [[Israel]] were among ten countries gaining independence in the 1940s, became independent first, followed by a dozen [[Africa]]n states in 1960, and nearly every remaining African and [[Caribbean]] state in the two following decades. By 1980 [[Hong Kong]] (British) was the only overseas possession with more than one million inhabitants. Finally the 1990s saw the breakup of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Yugoslavia]] - eighteen new countries were founded in a few years after forty years of European stability.

In contrast to this wave of new nations, a few countries lost their freedom. [[Tibet]], [[Hyderabad]] and [[Montenegro]] fell to larger nations by war or politics; [[East Germany]] and [[South Yemen]] joined their larger neighbors voluntarily and peacefully.

In contrast to this wave of new nations, a few countries lost their freedom. [[Tibet]], [[Hyderabad]] and [[Montenegro]] fell to larger nations by war or politics; [[East Germany]] and [[South Yemen]] joined their larger neighbors voluntarily and peacefully.