Sample Pages from Exploring World History Part 2 by Ray Notgrass with Charlene Notgrass and John Notgrass Copyright © Notgrass Company. All rights reserved. To order your copy visit www.notgrass.com or call 1-800-211-8793. Exploring World History Part 2 The Renaissance to the Present ii Exploring World History For all those who have in any way shared the sacred and imperishable gospel with those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). You have helped to fulfill God’s plan for mankind and have offered hope where there was none. Exploring World History Part 2 Ray Notgrass with Charlene Notgrass and John Notgrass ISBN 978-1-60999-062-6 Copyright © 2014 Notgrass Company. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. This book is licensed for sale only in the United States of America. Previous Page: Seoul, South Korea, 2011 Front Cover Images: London (Gabriel Vallina / Flickr / CC-BY-2.0), Johannes Gutenberg, Chinese Boy (Bertha Boynton Lum / Library of Congress), Napoleon (N. Currier / Library of Congress), Queen Victoria (George Hayter), Crown Prince of Thailand, c. 1900 (Library of Congress). Back Cover Image: Pagoda in Bukit Panjang New Town, Singapore (kewl / Flickr / CC-BY-2.0). Author Photo: Mary Evelyn McCurdy. All product names, brands, and other trademarks mentioned or pictured in this book are used for educational purposes only. No association with or endorsement by the owners of the trademarks is intended. Each trademark remains the property of its respective owner. Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation Used by permission. See the Credits for other sources of Bible quotations. Cover design by Mary Evelyn McCurdy Interior design by John Notgrass Printed in the United States of America Notgrass Company 975 Roaring River Road Gainesboro, TN 38562 1-800-211-8793 www.notgrass.com [email protected] 24 The World at War Summary The first half of the 20th century saw two world wars that took millions of lives and brought to an end the idea that man had progressed beyond the desire for armed conflict. In this unit we examine the causes of the Great War, the unsatisfactory conclusion of it, the events leading up to the Second World War, and the shape of international relations after that conflict. We focus on the inspiring leadership of Britain’s Winston Churchill and look at the cultural history of Japan to understand a country that once was an enemy and is now an ally. The Bible study is on peace. Lessons 116 - The Great War 117 - World War II 118 - Key Person: Winston Churchill 119 - Everyday Life: The Cultural History of Japan 120 - Bible Study: Peace Abandoned Boy in London, 1945 671 672 Unit 24 - The World at War Memory Work Learn Psalm 46:1-3 by the end of the unit. Books Used The Bible In Their Words The Hiding Place Project 1) Write 300 to 500 words on one of the following topics: (choose one) • Write about life on the home front during World War II. See Lesson 117. Life in the United States will be the easiest to research, but try to find out what it was like to live in Britain or France or another country during the war. • Looking at wars through the scope of history, why do you think nations go to war? 2) Interview a person who remembers World War II about their experiences during the war. Compose at least ten questions ahead of time. You can conduct your interview by phone or in person. Be respectful of your interviewee’s time and keep the interview within an hour. If possible, make an audio recording of the interview. 3) Memorize Psalm 46. Europe at the Beginning of the Great War German Infantry, 1914 Lesson 116 The Great War new century was dawning that held new wealth and economic growth, a mission to “civilize” possibilities for mankind. Technology those who had a different cultural background, and inventions were developing at an and a belief that national power and prestige were Aastounding rate. The world economy was changing enhanced by building a colonial empire. from an agricultural base to an industrial base. The partitioning of Asia and Africa by European People across the globe were connected through nations was largely completed by 1914. The lands communication as never before. The possibilities that were colonized were indeed modernized by the for future progress seemed limitless. Surely, many Europeans (and after 1898, by the United States), thought, mankind was entering an era when old but those changes came at a price paid by the native ways and old prejudices would disappear. people who were often manipulated and oppressed. Then reality hit with two world wars, new Europe appeared to be at peace. No major war weapons of death, the rise of terrible totalitarian had taken place since the end of the Napoleonic Wars regimes that took the lives of millions of people, in 1815. The nations of Europe were witnessing and years of economic uncertainty that affected the reforms in their government, and European entire globe. All this brought cynicism and despair economies were booming. However, dangerous to the hearts of many. The political, military, and storm clouds were gathering. social conditions in which people lived changed drastically from 1914 to 1945. International Competition Prelude to War Colony-grabbing created a sense of competition among the larger nations of Europe. Each wanted The first two-thirds of the 19th century in to have more, and all were looking at each other Europe saw a growing industrial revolution and suspiciously. This fed a growing spirit of nationalism continuing political revolutions. Then from 1870 that went beyond the earlier desires for a unified forward came a period of rapid overseas expansion country. Now nationalism meant a belief that with European colonization of Asia and Africa. your country was better than others and deserved Several motives drove this expansion: a desire for to expand its power and reach as fully as possible. 673 674 Unit 24 - The World at War One symbol of national pride was a strong army the east, should conflict erupt. Britain, which still that could defend national interests when necessary. ruled the seas, became threatened by the German Germany had already developed a powerful military naval build-up. As a result, Britain made an informal force by 1900, and other European nations tried mutual defense agreement with France. This group to catch up with it. In this mindset, nations were of three was called the Allies or the Triple Entente quick to consider military action when a potentially (French for “understanding,” or “intent”). troubling situation arose. The goal was to maintain Moreover, no international law existed to peace through a position of strength so that other govern such competition and potential conflict. nations would not threaten, but every nation Conferences at The Hague in the Netherlands wanted to be the strongest. This resulted in a huge around the turn of the century attempted to arms race. In addition, several nations wanted to formulate such law, including a ban on the use of add to their strength by forming alliances with poison gas (a new weapon of mass destruction) and other countries to be partners if any one nation in the creation of an international court of arbitration the alliance was threatened. where countries could take their complaints before Bismarck of Germany feared that France might turning to military action. try to attack Germany in revenge for its loss in the Franco-Prussian War. As a result, Germany created The Powder Keg a military alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. This Dual Alliance was later expanded to the Triple Many observers saw the Balkan peninsula, which Alliance when Italy joined. France, meanwhile lies between Austria and Turkey, as a powder keg formed an alliance with Russia in 1894 to protect that combined all of the factors which threatened against any expansionist moves of Germany. This the uneasy peace of Europe. The dying Ottoman meant that Germany faced the possibility of a two- Empire clung to some areas of the Balkans where front war, against France to the west and Russia to Islam was strongest. Austria, which had formed Exploring the Poles The early 1900s saw the exploration of the North and South Polar regions. Exploration in the North had historically been motivated by the desire to find a northwest passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. On a journey from 1903 to 1905, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) managed to get through the icy waters north of Canada. The difficulty of the trip showed that development of the passage for regular use was not practical. Claims regarding who got to the North Pole first have been disputed. Robert Peary (1856-1920), an American, is generally recognized as the leader of a team that reached the North Pole in 1909. Amundsen flew with a team over the North Pole in 1926 in theNorge airship (shown at left). The Antarctic region was the scene of seal hunting beginning in 1790, when Americans first ventured into the area to pursue this trade. Amundsen led a team that arrived at the geographic South Pole in 1911. British explorer Ernest Shackleton led an expedition in 1914 that attempted to cross the continent of Antarctica, but his ship Endurance (pictured at right) became trapped in the ice. Though his crew was stranded through the winter of 1914-1915, all 28 members were eventually rescued.