The most important events of the past century are highlighted in this vivid 10-volume series, from the opening moments of 1900 to the final seconds of 1999. Includes commentary from historians, rare photographs and stunning footage.

The 1900s
The Seeds of Progress
The turn of the century ignites enormous changes, not only for the calendar, but also for society. Milestones include: the industrial revolution and the rise of urban living; massive immigration to the U.S.; the rise of black culture and institutions; the assassination of President McKinley; and the emergence of the U.S. as a global power.

The 1910s
The Modern Age Begins
As technology moves forward and international struggles flare, warfare rises to a new, more murderous level. Milestones include: giant leaps in transportation, telecommunications, oil and steel industries; revolutions in Mexico, Ireland, Russia and Germany; the first World War; women´s suffrage movements; and the emergence of nickelodeons and jazz music.

The 1920s
A Decade of Contradictions
‘The Roaring Twenties,’ as they are known, see a major polarization of people around the world—people who embrace change, and those who fear it. Milestones include: prohibition leads to bootlegging and organized crime; African-American culture accelerates and membership in the KKK reaches an all-time high; Stalin and Mussolini gain power as America turns its back on international affairs; American cities boom while agriculture lags; and big spending and overproduction lead to the stock market crash.

The 1930s
The Great Depression
The stock market crash of 1929 ushers in a severe economic crisis in the United States and contributes to the rise of international tension. Milestones include: U.S. unemployment tops 15 million; drought devastates the Great Plains; FDR implements his ‘New Deal’; Americans turn to baseball, radio and movies for entertainment and escapism; and Stalin begins to ‘purge’ his enemies while Japan and Germany flex their military muscles.

The 1940s
War, Recovery and Rebirth
With Americans still struggling through a severe economic depression, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor leads the United States into the second global conflict of the century. Milestones include: World War II, the Holocaust and the atomic bomb; women enter the work force in large numbers; Israel declares its independence; the Baby Boom begins; and entertainment shifts to Big Bands, the jitterbug and crooners including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

The 1950s
Promoting the American Dream
The U.S. solidifies its position as a world leader, while on the home front; the ‘traditional family’ takes center stage. Milestones include: the arms race between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.; Senator Joseph McCarthy´s ‘witch hunts’; the birth of the Civil Rights movement; the rising influence of television; and Rock ‘N Roll and the conservative/religious reaction.

The 1960s
A Global Revolution
Innocence is lost as America struggles on many levels, not only politically and militarily, but also socially. Milestones include: tensions reach the boiling point between the U.S. and Cuba; the assassinations of four political leaders; the Vietnam War, anti-war demonstrations and the Civil Rights movement; the Space Race; and the hippie culture and the British Invasion.

The 1970s
Power Plays
As the Vietnam War comes to an end, the Middle East becomes a powder keg and the Nixon Administration collapses. Milestones include: the fall of Saigon; the Watergate Scandal; Americans taken hostage in Iran; home life changes dramatically with easier access to microwaves, fast food and VCRs; and the Disco Revolution.

The 1980s
A Decade of Decadence
Despite a series of ecological and technical disasters, the booming American economy spawns the catchphrase ‘greed is good.’ Milestones include: the Challenger and Exxon Valdez disasters; the shootings of President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and John Lennon; improved relations between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.; the S&L Scandal and the Iran-Contra Affair; and an exploding market for cell phones, PCs and crack cocaine.

The 1990s
America´s Hard Drive
The world becomes ‘smaller’ in an age of instant access, but some find themselves in an age of information overload. Milestones include: the Persian Gulf War fought with computerized weapons; personal computers, beepers, cell phones and fax machines become commonplace; former communist nations make the difficult change to capitalism; shocking rise of violence and terrorism in the U.S.; athletes led by Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire become role models in American culture.