It has been said that understanding the present is the most important thing in all history. Our present starts with **?The most direct history of the present is undoubtedly the century that has just taken place in the 20th century.
However, the more familiar and intimate the history, the more difficult it is to write. So much so that it is difficult to find a part of the classics that are sufficient to understand the true history of the 20th century. Among them, the main difficulties are as follows:
1.The impact of many events is still onUnclear:The history of the 20th century has not yet passed the precipitation of time, and the impact of many events is still fermenting, and it is difficult to "close the coffin".
2.There are many historical sources that are difficult to deal with:In the 20th century, the total amount of knowledge increased in a first-class manner, the prosperity of literature, art, science and technology was unprecedented, and the accumulation of historical materials far exceeded that of the past.
3.Being in the middle of it, the emotional filterThis history is our own experience, and normal academic discussions are inevitably influenced by the filter of political positions and national feelings.
However, the biggest problem lies in the inexplicability of the history of the 20th century itself. People standing at the beginning of the century look forward to this century, full of optimism, science and society are making great strides, the prospects are brilliant, no one can predict that mankind is about to usher in unprecedented war and **.
From World War I to World War II, mankind entered the era of modern civilization in the 20th century, but it caused far more killing and death than historyThis era, disappointmentIntertwined with hope, the achievements are brilliant and the disasters are deep. Liu Qing called it "barbarism in the age of civilization and madness in the age of reason".
But only by penetrating the fog of the 20th century can we find the roots of the present era. The 20th century was the era when Europe went from absolute dominance to one of the multipolar worlds.
Therefore, the history of Europe is the first question to be faced by the history of the present. The characteristics of this era determine that writers need to have a stronger ability to control history and be able to penetrate the vision of various fields.
Here, I sincerely recommend the famous American historian Roland StrombergDestruction and Reinvention: Europe in the 20th Century。In this classic historical work, the author responds brilliantly to several difficult questions about the history of the 20th century.
Destruction and Reinvention: Europe in the Twentieth CenturyA question of insight into the roots of historyThe penetrating work of the question
In this book, the author can always see the more fundamental problem behind the major events that we are already familiar with:
Behind the wars and movements, what is the position of the masses, and why can't we get rid of the frenzy of the times?
How did today's EC crisis sow the root of strife at the very beginning?
The question of modern life today is so similar to that of the beginning of the last century, when Zimmer asserted a hundred years ago: "The deepest problem of modern life arises from the demand of the individual to preserve his autonomy and individuality in the face of unstoppable social forces." "It's still relevant today.
These insights help us to re-understand those major public events, and recognize the "destruction" and "reshaping" behind the problems.
More focused on the deeperSocial change, taking into account the overall movement and the details of the part
Stromberg has long been engaged in the history of civilization and the history of ideas. His diverse perspectives have made him more suitable for dealing with the history of the 20th century, and compared with the past, science, economics, art, and literature have undergone greater changes and profoundly influenced the world.
ThereforeIn his eyes, history is not only public events such as two world wars and economic crises, but more importantly, those historical behaviors, social trends and technological changes that have profoundly affected our world and changed our lives.
Technological leaps in World War II: the Turing computer. The British used the Turing computer to crack the German code, which became one of the important factors in the victory in the European theater. Computers continued to evolve after World War II and eventually ushered humanity into the internet age in the late 20th century. There are two ways of writing history, one is more traditional, mainly telling about the victors of history and major public events, and the other is more popular at the moment, telling more stories about ordinary people such as farmers and workers.
Unlike both, Destruction and Reinvention: Europe in the Twentieth Century focuses more on the movement of culture as a whole and society as a whole, while grasping the details of history and the development of the bigger picture.
Put Europe inA global perspective, facing the open-ended ending of history
Although writing a history of Europe, Stromberg is able to see Europe in a dynamic of global influences.
In this kind of narrative, not only can we often see extremely familiar Chinese characters, but also can clearly grasp the interaction and influence between Europe and China and other regions.
What's more, most of us came from the 20th century. Stromberg's European oscillations and unrest, problems and crises in the 90s still haunt us deeply
Political corruption, terrorism, environmental pollution, unemployment, artificial intelligence, population slowdown, and social pathologies are also problems that China is experiencing or will be experiencing, and it is all the more worthy of our continued consideration and vigilance.
This is a concise history of Europe and an apocalypse of 20th-century Europe. Click on the merchandise card below to purchase the collection Destruction and Reinvention: Europe in the 20th Century today