This updated eight-volume set contains essays that cover the 20th century's most important events. With its articles arranged in chronological order, this new edition covers a wide variety of events from national and world politics, wars, civil disturbances, disasters, crimes, business, scientific and medical discoveries and breakthroughs,and other fields. The set's new articles extend the coverage through September 2001 and include stories such as the massacre of the Nepalese royal family by its own crown prince; and the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001 and their aftermath. The top matter offers a summary description ofthe event and defines its significance in a brief sentence. Following that description is a list of the ""what"", ""when"", and ""where"", ""who"" of the event,providing readers with the data on the first page of the article. The text of each 1000 word article is divided into three subsections, the first and second of which detailthe event itself and the background to it,and the last of which, ""Consequences"", identifies both the short-range consequences and the projected long-range impact of the event. The chronological arrangement of the articles not only serves as timeline but also casts light on the social, political,and economic evolution of the world from a collectopn of individual nations to a global community, in which developments in one regions have repercussions inothers.