At the end of the 19 th century, Europeans seemed to dominate the globe and the
future, exercising vast military, economic, political, and cultural power; over the
following hundred years, however, Europe became the central battlefield in three
wars and saw its preeminence fade in the face of American ascendency, Russian
force, and the diffusion of power across the entire world. Amid these
developments, Europeans became “modern” while struggling to come to terms
with their past. We will explore the political, economic, and cultural aspects of
European history over this period.