Looking back at the process of civilizations from origin to development in different regions, we compare the development paths and characteristics of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Greece, Rome and other civilizations in politics, economy, culture, etc. Analyze the innovations and breakthroughs of various civilizations at different stages, as well as the role of these developments in promoting the course of human history.

Taking ancient Chinese scientific and technological inventions as an example, we will explain its contribution to the development of world civilizations and the process of mutual learning and reference between different civilizations.

A thorough analysis of the reasons why ancient advanced civilizations such as China and India gradually lag behind in modern times. The constraints of traditional political system, economic model, ideological concepts and other factors make it difficult for these civilizations to make quick adjustments and changes when facing the impact of Western industrial civilization.

Discuss the obstacles of China's policy of closing the country during the Ming and Qing dynasties to scientific and technological development and foreign exchanges, as well as the restrictions of the Indian caste system on social progress and innovation. Comparing the rapid development of the West in science and technology, politics, economy and other fields during the same period, it highlights the impact of the phenomenon of "blocked leading" on the development of civilization.

After the rise of the Ottoman Turks, they continued to expand to the outside world and established a huge Ottoman Empire. The empire was extremely powerful in military terms, with advanced military technology and a huge army. By conquering large tracts of land in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa, it controlled the main transportation routes of Europe, Asia and Africa.

In terms of political system, the Ottoman Empire established a highly centralized ruling system, and the Sudan had absolute power. At the same time, the empire's administrative management system is relatively complete, with different departments responsible for government affairs, military, religious affairs and other affairs. In terms of culture and art, the Ottoman Empire incorporated a variety of cultural elements and had a unique architectural style, such as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. However, as time passed, corruption within the empire grew, military reforms lagged behind, and gradually became at a disadvantage in the competition with Western powers.

In the Persian region under the rule of the Safi Dynasty, Shia Islam was designated as the state religion, and this religious identity played an important role in the unity of the country and the development of culture. The Safi Empire's silk, carpet and other handicrafts are well-known, and their products are exported to Europe and other regions of Asia, occupying an important position in international trade.

The empire maintained a certain degree of trade and diplomatic relations with European countries, and through exchanges with Europe, it absorbed some Western culture and technology. However, in the late Safi Empire, due to political turmoil, frequent external wars and limitations of economic development models, national strength gradually declined.

The Mughal Empire reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Akbar, and he implemented a series of policies to promote religious integration and social stability. Culturally, Hinduism, Islam and other religious cultures blended with each other, and architectural art has achieved brilliant achievements. The Taj Mahal is an outstanding representative of this period.

As time went by, serious political corruption and social conflicts occurred within the empire, and local forces were separatist. At the same time, the economic infiltration and military aggression of European powers such as Britain continued to intensify, and the Mughal Empire gradually became a colony of Britain, lost national sovereignty, and severely damaged the economy.

In the early Ming Dynasty, the imperial power was strengthened politically, the prime minister system was abolished, the three departments were established, and the centralization was further strengthened. In terms of foreign exchanges, Zheng He's voyage to the West demonstrated his strong navigation strength and national prestige, but in the later period, the Ming Dynasty implemented a maritime ban policy and gradually restricted foreign exchanges. The Ming Dynasty achieved certain achievements in the fields of science and technology, literature, art, etc., such as Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica", Song Yingxing's "The Creation of Things in Heaven", and the novels "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin", and "Journey to the West".

In the early Qing Dynasty, the rulers were committed to consolidating the unity of multi-ethnic countries and their territory was further expanded. However, since the late Qianlong period, political corruption has become increasingly serious, and corruption and bribery have become a trend. At the same time, the Qing Dynasty long implemented a policy of closing the country, strictly restricting foreign trade and foreign exchanges, making China gradually lag behind the trend of world development. Faced with the threat of aggression from Western powers, the Qing Dynasty's disadvantages in military, technology and other aspects gradually emerged.

After Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate, a strict policy of locking the country was implemented, prohibiting foreign missionaries, businessmen and civilians from entering Japan, and also restricting Japanese nationals from going abroad. In China, the shogunate established a strict hierarchy system, with clear boundaries between scholars, farmers, workers and businessmen.

Despite being locked down, Japan's domestic economy still develops, agricultural production technology has been improved, and commerce and handicrafts are gradually booming. In terms of culture, the rise of art forms such as Ukiyo-e reflects the life and aesthetic tastes of the citizens. However, the policy of locking the country also widened the gap between Japan and the West in terms of science and technology, military, and laid hidden dangers for the later impact of Western powers.

The Renaissance movement liberated people's thoughts and laid the ideological foundation for the scientific revolution. The "heliocentric theory" proposed by Copernicus broke the long-standing dominance of "geocentric theory" and started a change in the field of astronomy. Through astronomical observations and experiments, Galileo further confirmed the "heliocentric theory" and made important achievements in physics, such as the discovery of the law of free fall.

Based on the research of previous generations, Newton proposed the law of universal gravitation and Newton's law of motion, constructed a classical mechanics system, which had a profound impact on the development of natural sciences. The scientific revolution not only changed mankind's understanding of the natural world, but also provided theoretical support for the arrival of the industrial revolution.

The first industrial revolution in the UK was the development of the capitalist economy, the continuous expansion of overseas markets, and the accumulation of labor and capital provided by the enclosure movement. The industrial revolution first started with the textile industry. The invention of a series of machines such as Jenny spinning machines and hydraulic spinning machines greatly improved production efficiency.

With the widespread application of Watt's improved steam engine, industrial production has achieved a transformation from manual labor to large-scale machine production, and the factory system has gradually been established. Major changes have also taken place in the field of transportation. The steam locomotive invented by Stephenson made transportation more convenient and further promoted the spread and development of the industrial revolution.

After a long struggle, the British bourgeois revolution established a constitutional monarchy through the Bill of Rights, restricted the royal power, protected the power of parliament, and opened up the way for the development of British capitalism.

The Enlightenment provided ideological weapons for the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. During the American War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence declared the independence of the United States, and the United States subsequently established a federal republic system, embodying the principle of separation of powers. The French Revolution completely overthrew feudal rule, and the Declaration of Human Rights promoted the concepts of freedom, equality, democracy, and other ideas, which had a profound impact on the development of world history.

During the Renaissance, people's research and exploration of classical culture inspired the pursuit and exploration of knowledge. Scholars began to question traditional authority and concepts, and advocated understanding the world through rational thinking and empirical methods.

The development of capitalist economy provides a material basis for scientific research, and the emerging bourgeoisie's demand for technological innovation has promoted scientific progress. The great geographical discovery has broadened people's horizons, brought new animal and plant varieties and astronomy and geography knowledge, and triggered people's in-depth thinking on natural phenomena.

In the field of astronomy, Copernicus's "heliocentric theory" challenged the traditional view of the universe, and Bruno sacrificed his heroic dedication to defend this doctrine. Kepler discovered the three laws of planetary motion and further improved the "heliocentric" system.

In physics, Galileo used experimental research on the relationship between free fall motion, the relationship between force and motion, laying the foundation for the development of classical mechanics. Newton combined the research results of his predecessors, proposed the law of universal gravitation and Newton's law of motion, and constructed a complete classical mechanics system. In addition, important breakthroughs have been made in the fields of chemistry and biology, such as Lavoisier's oxidation theory and Linnaire's biological classification method.

Through overseas colonial expansion, Britain accumulated a large amount of wealth and provided sufficient capital for the industrial revolution. The land enclosure movement caused a large number of farmers to lose land and become free labor, providing human support to factories.

The long-term development of handicraft workshops has accumulated rich production technology and experience, and the continuous expansion of market demand, especially the large demand for British goods in overseas markets, has prompted people to seek more efficient production methods. At the same time, the UK has abundant coal and iron resources, providing material guarantees for industrial production.

As the pioneer of the industrial revolution, the textile industry started with the invention of Jenny spinning machine and triggered a series of technological innovations. Subsequently, hydraulic spinning machines, mule machines, etc. were launched one after another, improving the efficiency and quality of spinning. Improvements in the loom also greatly improve the weaving speed.

The invention and improvement of steam engines were a key turning point in the industrial revolution. Watt's improved steam engine is widely used in textile, mining, metallurgy, transportation and other industries, becoming the main source of power for industrial production. With the popularity of steam engines, factories have got rid of their dependence on natural power such as hydraulic power and have been able to produce centralized and large-scale. In the field of transportation, the invention of steam locomotives and steamboats has changed people's travel and transportation methods and strengthened connections between places.

Economically, the Industrial Revolution greatly promoted the development of productivity and enabled the rapid growth of European countries' economies. The status of the industrial bourgeoisie continues to rise and has become an important force in economic and political life. At the same time, the industrial revolution also promoted the process of urbanization, with a large number of people pouring into cities from rural areas, the scale of cities continued to expand, and urban infrastructure and public services were developed.

The social structure has undergone profound changes, forming two opposing classes: the industrial bourgeoisie and the industrial proletariat. The proletariat is facing a harsh working environment, long working hours and meager wages, and class contradictions are becoming increasingly acute. In terms of ideology and culture, the Industrial Revolution promoted the popularization of science and technology and the development of education. People's ideas and concepts gradually changed, and the pursuit of progress and innovation has become the mainstream of social thoughts.

The development of the capitalist economy has continuously strengthened the power of the bourgeoisie, and they demanded more political power to break the rule of feudal aristocracy. The Enlightenment spread ideas such as freedom, equality, democracy, and the rule of law, and provided theoretical guidance and ideological mobilization for the political revolution.

The corruption of the feudal system and the constraints on economic development are becoming increasingly obvious. The peasant class and urban civilians are constantly accumulating dissatisfaction with feudal oppression and exploitation, and social contradictions are intensifying. In addition, the victory of the American War of Independence provided a reference and example for the political revolution in Europe.

The contradiction between the British bourgeoisie and the new aristocracy and the feudal royal power has been a long time. In the early 17th century, Kings of England James I and Charles I promoted autocratic rule, and the contradictions with parliament continued to deepen. In 1640, the reconvenation of Parliament marked the beginning of the British bourgeois revolution.

During the revolution, the parliamentary army won under the leadership of Cromwell and Charles I was sent to the guillotine. Since then, Britain has experienced the republic period and the reign of the country protector. In 1688, the "Glorious Revolution" broke out, and the British Parliament invited the Dutch ruler William III and Mary II to rule Britain together. In 1689, the British Parliament passed the Bill of Rights, establishing a constitutional monarchy, limiting the royal power, protecting the power of the parliament, and laying the foundation for the development of British capitalism and political stability.

The Enlightenment originated in Britain in the 17th century and reached its climax in France in the 18th century. Voltaire advocated natural human rights, opposed feudal autocracy and the rule of the Catholic Church, and advocated an enlightened monarchy. Rousseau proposed the "social contract theory" and the "people's sovereignty theory", emphasizing that the people have the right to overthrow the government that oppressed them. Montesquieu proposed the theory of "separation of powers", advocating the separation of legislative power, executive power and judicial power to prevent the abuse of power.

The thinkers of the Enlightenment widely spread ideas such as freedom, equality, democracy, and the rule of law through writing books and giving speeches, and deeply criticized the feudal system and religious superstition. The Enlightenment not only provided ideological weapons for the French Revolution and the American War of Independence, but also had a profound impact on the political and cultural development of Europe and the world.

Britain's cruel exploitation and high-pressure rule of North American colonies aroused strong dissatisfaction among the colonial people. The Boston Tea Pour in 1773 became the fuse of the American War of Independence. In 1775, the gunshots of Lexington marked the outbreak of the American War of Independence.

In 1776, the Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence, declaring the independence of the United States. Under Washington's leadership, the US military finally won the victory after hard battles. In 1787, the United States formulated the federal constitution, established a federal republic system, and implemented the principle of separation of powers, providing institutional guarantees for the political stability and economic development of the United States.

At the end of the 18th century, the social class contradictions in France were sharp, and the third hierarchy (including the bourgeoisie, peasants, workers, etc.) was deeply oppressed by feudal aristocracy and the Catholic Church. In 1789, the Parisian people captured the Bastille, marking the outbreak of the French Revolution.

In the early days of the revolution, the Constituent Assembly passed the Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming the principles of human rights, freedom, equality, and the rule of law. As the revolution deepened, France experienced the abolition of the monarchy and the dictatorship of the Jacobins. The Jacobins took a series of radical measures to combat feudal forces, but also triggered social unrest. In 1799, Napoleon seized power through the Mist Moon Coup and established the First French Empire. During Napoleon's administration, the "Napoleon Code" was promulgated, consolidating the achievements of the French Revolution, but his foreign war also brought disaster to European countries. The French Revolution completely overthrew France's feudal rule, spread the idea of ​​liberal democracy, and had a profound impact on the development of European and world history.

After the 1830s, Germany accelerated its development as the process of political unification progressed. Prussia and other countries vigorously develop railway construction and drive industries such as coal and steel. Krupp has made outstanding achievements in steel and military manufacturing, and Siemens has risen in the electrical industry. With its investment in education and scientific research, Germany has gained technological advantages in chemical industry, machinery manufacturing, etc., and has quickly become an industrial power.

The Russian Industrial Revolution began in the mid-19th century and was hampered by serfdom and had a difficult start. After the serfdom reform in 1861, a large number of laborers poured into urban factories, the government promoted railway construction, and the introduction of foreign investment promoted industrial development. However, Russia's industrial development is unbalanced, mainly concentrated in a few areas such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, and has a high degree of dependence on foreign capital and technology.

The United States has rapidly advanced its industrial revolution with its rich resources, a broad market, and a large number of immigrants. In the textile industry, the Lowell system achieves production integration; in the steel industry, the Bessema steelmaking method improves production efficiency. In the late 19th century, the United States was leading in emerging industries such as electricity and automobile manufacturing. Edison invented many electrical appliances such as electric lights. Ford Motor Company pioneered assembly line production, making the United States a world industrial power.

Through the Meiji Restoration, Japan comprehensively learned from the West, implemented the policy of breeding and industrial development, introduced Western technology and equipment, and established modern factories. With the support of the government, the textile industry took the lead in developing, and subsequently, industries such as steel and machinery manufacturing emerged. Japan also focuses on cultivating its own talents, establishing a modern education system, providing support for the sustainable development of industry, and realizing the transformation from a traditional agricultural country to an industrial country.

Most countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America have become raw material production places and commodity dumping markets in the wave of the industrial revolution. Traditional Indian handicrafts went bankrupt under the impact of British goods and their economic structure was destroyed; after the two Opium Wars, China launched the Westernization Movement and founded military and civilian industries, but was bound by the feudal system and squeezed by the great powers, and its results were limited; Latin America The country relies on exports of single agricultural products or mineral products, and its industrial development is slow and its economic development is abnormal.

The world market was finally formed, the scale of international trade expanded sharply, and the international division of labor became increasingly clear. European and American countries have become industrial production centers, and Asia, Africa and Latin America have become raw material supply places and commodity sales markets. The UK has become the "world factory", exporting industrial finished products to the world in exchange for raw materials.

Major changes have taken place in international relations. European and American industrial powers rely on their economic and military advantages to compete for colonies and spheres of influence on a global scale, aggravating the conflicts between the great powers. At the same time, the Industrial Revolution enhanced Western countries' control over the world, and Asian, African and Latin America were facing serious national crisis and were forced to be involved in the capitalist world system.

Social problems are also emerging, with a huge gap between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and the poor, and the working class has a bad working environment, long working hours and low wages. Urban population is over-concentrated, housing is tight, sanitary conditions are poor, and disease prevalence is prevalent. Environmental pollution problems are becoming increasingly serious, and the waste gas, waste water and waste slag emitted by factories have caused great damage to the ecological environment.

After the Vienna Conference, the European powers established the Vienna system, re-divided the European political territory, and maintained the balance of power on the European continent. With its strong naval and colonial empire, Britain had an important voice in international affairs; although France suffered its strength after Napoleon, it still had an important influence on the European continent; Prussia unified Germany through three dynasty wars and became an emerging power in Europe; Russia Expanding power in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, European powers set off a craze for the world. British colonies are spread all over the world, known as the "Empire of the Sun"; France has large areas of colonies in Africa and Asia; Germany, Italy and other later powers have also actively seized colonies, such as Germany occupied a number of land in Africa. The great powers controlled the politics of most parts of the world by signing treaties and dividing the sphere of influence, and colonial countries lost their political sovereignty.

Europe dominated world trade, and its industrial finished products were sold in large quantities around the world, while plundering cheap raw materials from colonies. The UK controls global trade routes and financial centers, London becomes the world's financial center, and the British pound is the main international currency. European capital was exporting a large amount of money, investing in railways, mines, plantations, etc. in colonies, making huge profits.

Taking the Suez Canal as an example, Britain controls the canal operation rights and ensures its trade and transportation with colonies such as India. European companies establish monopoly companies in colonies, such as the British East India Company, which manipulates the colonial economy and seriously hinders the normal development of the local economy.

Western culture spread to the world with the expansion of colonialism. Christian missionaries preached around the world, establishing churches, schools, and hospitals, and changing the social, culture and lifestyle of the colonies to a certain extent. The Western education system, scientific knowledge, literature and art are also widely disseminated, and some elites in colonial countries receive Western education and ideas.

European languages ​​such as English and French are popular all over the world and have become an important language for international exchanges. Western architectural styles, clothing fashion, etc. were popular in the colonies, impacting local cultural traditions. But at the same time, the colonial people also resisted and integrated Western culture to a certain extent, forming a unique cultural phenomenon.

Military, European countries took the lead in completing the industrial revolution and possessed advanced weapons and equipment and military technology. Rear-mounted rifled guns, artillery, etc. are widely used, and naval ironclad ships replace wooden sailboats and enhance European military aggression capabilities. Military organizations and strategies and tactics are constantly innovating, and the Prussian military system has become a model for learning from all countries.

Economically, the Industrial Revolution promoted the rapid development of the European economy, the capitalist economic system matured, and efficient economic organization forms such as factory systems and joint-stock companies promoted production and capital concentration. The financial system is perfect and the banking and securities markets are developed, providing financial support for economic development.

In terms of science and technology, Europe has made many breakthroughs in the field of scientific research, and Newtonian mechanics, electromagnetic theory, etc. have laid the foundation for technological innovation. Technical inventions emerge in an endless stream, such as steam engines, power applications, etc., which greatly improve production efficiency and promote changes in the fields of industry, transportation, communications, etc.

In terms of political system, most European countries have established a capitalist system, and constitutional monarchy, democratic republicism and other countries have guaranteed the political power of the bourgeoisie. Political decision-making is relatively efficient, which is conducive to the development of the capitalist economy and external expansion. The rise of nationalist thoughts has enhanced the cohesion and expansion momentum of European countries.

The political and economic development of imperialist countries is unbalanced, and the economies of later countries such as Germany and the United States have developed rapidly, with industrial output value exceeding that of old colonial empires Britain and France, but the colonies have a smaller share. Germany demanded a new division of the world, and conflicts with Britain, France and other countries intensified.

In order to compete for colonial and world hegemony, European powers formed two major military groups. The Three Kingdoms Alliance is dominated by Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Italy, while the Three Kingdoms Alliance is dominated by Britain, France and Russia. The two major groups have expanded their arms to prepare for war, launched an arms race, further intensified international tensions.

The Balkans have complex ethnic relations, and there is a territorial dispute between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Serbia in the Balkans. The rise of nationalist sentiment and the rise of thoughts such as Pan-Slavism made the Balkans a "powder keg" in Europe, laying hidden dangers for the outbreak of war.

In 1914, the Sarajevo incident became the fuse of World War I, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. The war mainly started on the Western and Eastern fronts. The British and French coalition forces confronted the German army on the Western Front. The Battle of Marne prevented the German army from winning quickly. After that, they entered a long-term positional war. The Battle of Verdun and the Battle of Somme were tragic, and both sides suffered huge casualties.

Russia fought against the German-Austrian coalition on the Eastern Front, and the German army severely damaged the Russian army in the Battle of Tannenburg. In the late period of the war, the United States declared war on Germany in 1917 due to its own interests, strengthening the power of the Allies. At the same time, the October Revolution broke out in Russia and withdrew from the war.

World War I caused huge casualties and economic losses. The number of casualties and casualties in various countries participated in the war reached tens of millions, a large number of infrastructure was destroyed, the European economy suffered heavy damage, and the strength of veteran powers such as the United Kingdom was weakened.

Europe's international status declined, and the United States and Japan rose. The United States made great money in the war, strengthened its economic strength, and began to play an important role in international affairs; Japan took the opportunity to expand its influence in Asia.

The national liberation movement emerged, the people of the semi-colonial colonies were affected by the war, and national consciousness was awakened, such as the May Fourth Movement of China and the non-violent non-cooperation movement in India, which impacted the colonial ruling system.

War has changed international relations and gave birth to an international alliance. Although it has failed to effectively maintain peace, it has created a new model for international cooperation to maintain peace. At the same time, war also promotes the development of science and technology, and aircraft, tanks, chemical weapons, etc. have been applied and improved in war.

World War I collapsed Russia's economy and intensified social contradictions. In March 1917, the February Revolution broke out, overthrowing the Tsarist autocratic rule and establishing a bourgeois provisional government. However, the Provisional Government continued to participate in the First World War and failed to solve the problems of people's land, bread, etc.

In November 1917, the October Revolution broke out, and the Bolshevik Party, under the leadership of Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government and established the Soviet regime. The wartime communist policy was then implemented, and the country's manpower and material resources were concentrated to ensure the victory of the war, but it aroused dissatisfaction among farmers.

After the end of World War I, the Paris Peace Conference was held, the Peace Treaty of Versailles was signed, and severe sanctions were imposed on Germany, including cede territory, restriction of arms, and payment of huge compensation. This system constructed the post-war European international order, but the excessive oppression of Germany sowed the seeds of revenge.

In response to the Far East and the Pacific region, the Washington Conference signed the Four-Nation Treaty, the Five-Nation Naval Treaty, and the Nine-Nation Convention, adjust the interests of the great powers in the region, break the situation of Japan's dominance of China, establish the United States' dominance in the Asia-Pacific region, and form a Versailles - Washington system.

After World War I, Italy suffered an economic recession, social turmoil, and nationalist sentiment rose. Mussolini formed a fascist party, used the people to be dissatisfied with the status quo, seized power through violent means, and established a fascist dictatorship.

Mussolini banned the opposition party internally, suppressed the workers' movement, and implemented totalitarian rule; implemented expansion policies externally, attempting to restore the glory of the Roman Empire, and invaded Ethiopia and other countries.

In 1929, the US New York stock market collapsed, triggering a global economic depression. Overproduction, a large number of factories went bankrupt, banks went bankrupt, and the number of unemployed people increased dramatically. Industrial production in the United States has dropped sharply, agricultural product prices plummeted, and farmers' income has dropped sharply.

The economic crisis spread rapidly to the world, and European countries were also deeply affected. Unemployment rates in Germany, the United Kingdom and other countries soared and international trade shrank. Countries have adopted trade protectionist policies to further exacerbate global economic difficulties.

Since 1928, Stalin has implemented a five-year plan to give priority to the development of heavy industry. Through national directive plans, resources are concentrated to build large-scale industrial projects, such as the Dnieper Hydropower Station. In agriculture, collectivization is implemented and individual farmers are included in collective farms.

The first two five-year plans enabled the Soviet Union to achieve industrialization, and its industrial output value ranked first in Europe and second in the world. However, there are also problems such as one-sided development of heavy industry, ignoring agriculture and light industry, and frustrating farmers' enthusiasm.

The United States implements Roosevelt's new policy, through state intervention in the economy, rectify financial order, and restore bank credit; strengthen industrial guidance, adjust enterprise production and competition through the National Industrial Rejuvenation Law; promote "work-for-relief", establish public projects, and increase employment ; Establish a social security system to alleviate social conflicts.

Germany and Japan embarked on the fascist road under the impact of the economic crisis. When the German Nazi Party came to power, Hitler implemented dictatorship, expanded his military and prepared for war, and transferred the economic crisis through foreign aggression; Japan's militarist power expanded, launched a war of aggression against China, trying to use war to plunder resources to get rid of difficulties.

In 1931, Japan launched the September 18th Incident and invaded Northeast China. The puppet Manchukuo was then established, colonizing the Northeast, plundering resources, and enslaving the people. In 1937, the July 7 Incident broke out and Japan invaded China in an all-out manner.

During the Japanese invasion of China, the Japanese army committed atrocities such as the Nanjing Massacre, which brought heavy disasters to the Chinese people. The Chinese people launched the national war of resistance, and the Kuomintang and the Communist Party cooperated to establish a national united front against Japan and carried out arduous resistance.

In 1935, Italian fascist troops invaded Ethiopia. Although the Egyptian army resisted bravely, it was difficult to resist the Italian army due to backward weapons and equipment and military technology gap. Italy used cruel means such as poison gas to occupy Ethiopia. The League of Nations imposed poor sanctions on Italy and condoned fascist invasion.

In 1936, Spanish fascist officer Franco launched a rebellion, triggering a civil war. The Spanish Republican government received support from the international column and other groups to resist. German and Italian fascists openly supported the Franco rebels and bombed Spanish cities, such as the Guernica tragedy. The war collapsed Spain's economy and divided society.

In 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Soviet Union's Non-aggression Treaty, and the two sides divided the spheres of influence in Eastern Europe. The treaty allowed Germany to relieve its concerns on combat on both sides, and to move westward, accelerate the outbreak of World War II, and at the same time changed the political landscape of Europe.

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and quickly broke through the Polish defense line using blitzkrieg tactics. Although the Polish army resisted tenaciously, it was difficult to resist due to the huge equipment gap and strategic mistakes. On September 3, Britain and France declared war on Germany, and World War II broke out in full swing.

On the European battlefield, Germany quickly occupied Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and other countries. Britain faced German air strikes and carried out the British Air Force. In 1941, Germany tore up the Soviet-German Treaty of Non-Aggression and invaded the Soviet Union. The Moscow Defense War broke the myth of the German army's invincibility, and the Battle of Stalingrad became a turning point in the European battlefield in World War II.

Pacific Battlefield, on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, severely hitting the US Pacific Fleet, and the United States officially joined the war. The US military won the Battle of Midway and reversed the situation in the Pacific battlefield. On the Asian battlefield, the Chinese people continued to resist the war and restrained a large number of Japanese troops.

On the African battlefield, the British army fought fiercely with the German and Italian troops, and the British army won the Battle of Alahman, which became a turning point in the African battlefield. In 1944, the Allies landed in Normandy, opening up the second battlefield in Europe and accelerating the demise of German fascism.

World War II caused huge casualties and property losses, with more than 100 million casualties worldwide, and a large number of cities, factories, and infrastructure were destroyed, and the economy suffered heavy damage.

World War II gave birth to the United Nations, replacing the League of Nations, aiming to maintain world peace and security and promote international cooperation. The national liberation movement flourished, the colonial countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America were independent one after another, and the colonial system collapsed.

War has promoted the rapid development of science and technology, and major breakthroughs have been made in technologies such as nuclear energy, electronic computers, and jet aircraft, which have had a profound impact on the development of human society.

In the late World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union had serious differences on the arrangement of the post-war world order. On the issue of Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union hoped to establish a pro-Soviet regime to ensure its own security; the United States tried to promote the Western democratic system, and the contradictions between the two sides were highlighted.

After the German sub-district occupation, the United States and the Soviet Union refused to give in to each other on issues such as German unification and compensation. Ideologically, the opposition between capitalism and socialism has intensified distrust between both sides, and the wartime alliance gradually broke down.

In 1947, the United States introduced Trumanism, claiming to curb communist expansion, marking the official beginning of the Cold War. In the same year, the United States launched the Marshall Plan to restore the European economy through economic assistance to Western Europe, stabilize the capitalist order, and curb the influence of the Soviet Union.

In 1949, the United States and other Western countries established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to form a military alliance. In 1955, the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries established the Warsaw Treaty Organization (Warsaw Pact), and the bipolar pattern was finally formed. The United States and the Soviet Union launched a global political, economic, military, and cultural confrontation.

World War II weakened the strength of colonial empires such as Britain and France, making it difficult for them to maintain huge colonial rule. Colonial national consciousness awakened during World War II, and the nationalist movement flourished.

After the founding of the United Nations, it advocated the principle of national self-determination and provided international support for colonial independence. The colonial people accumulated military experience in the war and created conditions for the struggle for independence.

In 1947, India and Pakistan divided and independent under the "Mountbatten Plan" of the United Kingdom, ending British colonial rule. After India's independence, under the leadership of Nehru, it was committed to national construction and development.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam finally achieved national unity and independence through the struggle against France and the United States; Indonesia broke away from Dutch colonial rule and declared independence. In the Middle East, many Arab countries broke away from colonial rule, such as Egypt and other countries, and the national liberation movement promoted changes in the regional political landscape.

In 1952, a revolution broke out in Egypt, overthrowing the feudal dynasty, and Egypt under Nasser's leadership turned to independence. 1960 was called the "Year of Africa", and 17 African countries were independent in this year. After a long and arduous struggle, Algeria broke away from French colonial rule.

By the 1990s, Namibia's independence marked the complete collapse of the African colonial system. After African countries are independent, they face many challenges such as political stability, economic development, and social construction.

After World War II, Britain's national strength declined and was unable to maintain its huge colonial empire. The independence movements in various colonies were surging, and Britain was forced to adjust its colonial policies. Colonies such as India, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Malaysia have successively become independent.

In order to maintain ties with the former colonies, the United Kingdom established the Commonwealth, and the members of the Commonwealth maintained certain cooperation in politics, economy, culture, etc. The end of the British Empire marked the gradual disappearance of the world colonial era and the profound changes in the international political landscape.

In the 1980s, the Soviet economy was in trouble, and the disadvantages of the highly concentrated planned economic system appeared, economic growth was slow, and people's living standards were restricted.

After Gorbachev came to power, he first carried out economic reform without achieving results, and then turned to political reform, proposing "humane and democratic socialism", which weakened the Party's leadership and triggered social unrest. In 1991, after the August 19th Incident, the Soviet Union disintegrated and split into multiple independent countries.

With the economic integration process, the EU integrates resources and formulates unified policies in the fields of trade, finance, etc., and its total economic output occupies an important position in the world. In diplomacy, the EU speaks out as a whole and actively mediates in international affairs, such as playing a unique role in the Middle East peace process and international trade negotiations.

Japan's economy has risen rapidly since World War II. Through technology introduction and innovation, it has strong competitiveness in industries such as automobile manufacturing, electronics and electrical appliances. Although he was politically bound by historical issues in World War II, he actively sought to improve his international status with his economic strength, participated in international peacekeeping, humanitarian rescue and other affairs, and tried to expand his influence on the international stage.

Russia inherited most of the Soviet Union's military heritage, had a huge nuclear arsenal and advanced military technology, and had a strong deterrent power in the military field. In the international energy market, Russia, as an important oil and gas exporter, has a certain voice in the international political and economic structure with its energy resources advantages and actively carries out energy cooperation with European and Asian countries.

Through reform and opening up, China's economy has taken off and become the world's second largest economy. Adhere to the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and peace in diplomacy, advocate the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, actively participate in global governance, contribute China's wisdom and strength in the fields of climate change response, peacekeeping, international counter-terrorism, and continuously improve its international status and influence.

In addition, the trend of joint self-improvement among the vast majority of developing countries on the international stage is becoming increasingly obvious. For example, the BRICS Organization (BRICS), including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has launched a common voice from emerging economies in global economic governance, financial reform, trade and investment, and promoted the international order through regular meetings and cooperation mechanisms, and promoted the international order. Develop in a more fair and reasonable direction.

At the economic level, with the rise of emerging economies, the West's share in the global economy has gradually declined. Taking manufacturing as an example, a large number of industries have been transferred to developing countries, and the advantages of traditional Western manufacturing are no longer there. For example, the steel and textile industries in the United States, and the production of automobile parts in some European countries are facing problems such as rising costs and shrinking market share. At the same time, the global financial crisis in 2008 originated from the US subprime mortgage crisis and spread rapidly to the world, exposing the fragility of the Western financial system and regulatory loopholes, resulting in weak economic growth in the West, rising unemployment rates and frequent government debt crises.

Politically, the Western democratic system is facing difficulties. Electoral politics has become a game between money and interest groups, the sense of political participation of ordinary people has decreased, and the social division has been severe. The Brexit incident reflects the setbacks in the process of European integration, and also highlights the deep-seated contradictions in political decision-making and interest distribution within Western countries. In international affairs, the Western hegemony status is challenged and its dominance in international affairs has declined. For example, military intervention in the Middle East fails to achieve the expected goals, which instead triggers regional turmoil.

At the social level, the gap between the rich and the poor is constantly widening, and the social class is seriously solidified. The "Occupy Wall Street" movement protested that 1% of the rich have a large amount of wealth and resources, while ordinary people face many difficulties in education, medical care, employment, etc. Racial conflicts are becoming increasingly acute. The frequent incidents of racial discrimination in the United States have caused continuous social turmoil and impacted Western social stability and values.

In the field of science and technology, the West still maintains a leading position. The United States continues to innovate in cutting-edge fields such as information technology, biotechnology, aerospace, etc., and technology giants such as Google and Apple continue to make breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and mobile Internet technology. Europe has achieved remarkable results in high-end manufacturing and new energy technology research and development. Germany's Industry 4.0 promotes the intelligent upgrading of manufacturing, and France is at the forefront of the world in nuclear energy utilization technology. Top Western scientific research institutions and universities attract global talents, invest a lot of money in basic scientific research, and provide a continuous driving force for technological innovation.

In terms of culture, Western culture is widely spread with the help of the wave of globalization. Hollywood movies occupy most of the global market share and export Western values ​​and lifestyles through movies. Pop music, fashion trends, etc. are also spreading outward with the West as the center. Paris and Milan are the global fashion capitals, leading the global fashion trends. As an international common language, English provides convenience for the dissemination of Western culture and continuously enhances the global influence of Western culture.

In terms of education, Western higher education is highly favored by students around the world. Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, etc. in the United States have cultivated a large number of outstanding talents with strong faculty, advanced teaching facilities and rich academic resources, and played an important role in academic research, scientific and technological innovation and other fields. , consolidate the West's dominant position in the field of global knowledge and talent.

The process of globalization continues to advance in twists and turns. With the rapid development of transportation and communication technologies, the interdependence of economies among countries has continued to deepen, but at the same time, the rise of trade protectionism and unilateralism has brought challenges to globalization. For example, the trade friction initiated by the United States has had an impact on the global industrial chain and supply chain. In the future, countries need to strengthen cooperation, resolve disputes through the multilateral trading system, and promote globalization to develop in a more open, inclusive, inclusive, balanced and win-win direction.

In the face of global challenges, such as climate change, environmental pollution, resource shortages, and epidemics of infectious diseases, international cooperation is crucial. Climate change has led to melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and frequent extreme climate events, threatening the survival of all mankind. The Paris Agreement aims to jointly respond to climate change around the world, but some countries withdraw or passively implement it, which will affect the effectiveness of the agreement. The world needs to strengthen technology sharing and financial assistance, develop green energy, and promote sustainable development.

The development of science and technology will profoundly change the life and social outlook of human beings. The development of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and gene editing both brings opportunities and risks. Artificial intelligence can improve productivity and improve medical services, but it may also lead to large-scale unemployment and privacy violations. It is necessary to establish and improve laws, regulations and ethical standards to guide the healthy development of science and technology and ensure that it benefits mankind.

Under the trend of multipolarization, the international order is facing reshaping. Emerging economies and developing countries require more voice in international affairs, and reforms by international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are imperative. The future international order should be more fair and reasonable, respect the sovereignty and development path choices of various countries, resolve international disputes through dialogue and consultation, and build a more stable and harmonious world pattern.