Mikhail Gorbachev and the end of Communism

Mikhail Gorbachev helped to open the soviet union by modernizing the economy and introducing a market economy to Russia. This led to other countries establishing a market economy and become independent. Glasnost was a program to rid the soviet union of corruption and political abuse. Perestroika was an economic program. Russian for reconstructing its goal was to restructure the soviet economy to a market economy.

Collapse of Communism

Communism collapses in eastern Europe because there was shortages in goods, the economy was weak and the people wanted freedom. The citizens of Berlin tore down the Berlin wall to unify Berlin. The collapse of the soviet union changed the world because the U.S became the worlds only superpower and the threat of nuclear war decreased.

Creation of Israel

Zionism was a political movement during the late 19th century to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Israel had to fight wars with their neighbors because the Arab Muslims hated them and wanted that land. Israelis and Palestinians don't get along because they feel they should control that land, not the other.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid

Apartheid is a policy of racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. Under Apartheid blacks were not even allowed to be citizens. Apartheid ended in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela as President. Nelson Mandela is a hero because he endured 27 years of hard labor in prison and the government couldn't break him. He's so admired the South Africans and by the author of the book because he never called for violence and because he was willing to forgive the white population of South Africa.

African Independence

After the second world war the major colonial powers of Europe were weakened. They could not maintain their colonies in Africa and were forced to grant them independence. Some countries tried to prepare them for Independence like Great Britain, others tried to maintain control, like the French and the Portuguese. The first colony to gain Independence was Ghana. Its first president was Kwame Nkrumah. He was the ruler of Ghana until 1966. The countries has been in civil war ever since. Other countries in Africa who gained Independence were Algeria (France 1962 lead by Ahmed Ben Bella), Kenya (Britain 1963 led by Jomo Kenyatta), The Congo (Belgium 1960 led by Mobutu Sese Seko), and Angola (Portugal 1975 led by the MPLA)

The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution was a point in history about 10,000 years ago that humans started to grow plants and domesticate animals. This was important because Humans could settle down in one place. This allowed the population to expand, and cities to grow. Most Cities were near river valleys because they had easy access to drinking water and water to grow food.

The European Union

The European Union is an alliance between 25 European nations. Members of the EU can cross the borders of other member nations easily, they have a common military, and a common currency. The EU is a good thing because it will prevent war in Europe.