Introduction. The World at the Start of the 20th Century

A Grade 9 topic in modern world history: Introduction. The World at the Start of the 20th Century (pp. 5–12, T. Omurzakova). At the start of the 20th century a second technological revolution unfolded in the USA and the leading countries of Europe; machine building, electrical engineering and the oil and chemical industry grew fast. The generator, the telephone, electric light and X-rays were invented back in the 19th century, but their mass use began only at the start of the 20th. In 1914 American farming used 17 thousand tractors. The first conveyor for making cars was started by Henry Ford in 1914. Cities grew fast: in 1880 Europe had 8 cities of more than 1.5 million people, and by 1914 there were 29. The colonies covered 50 million square kilometres and held 500 million people. Only Japan stayed outside the policy of Western interference. In 1913 Sweden introduced pension cover for the whole population of the country.