Contemporary history describes the term of historical events, that are immediately relevant to the present time. That way, it is a certain perspective of modern history. This intentionally loose definition includes major events like the Second World War, but not those like the Cuban Missile Crisis^{citation needed}, whose effects have long been overcome. Events of the same year, or the past two years, however, are not considered historical.

Events of Contemporary History

• 1939-1945: Second World War
• 1943-1949: Beginning of the Cold War
• 1951: Treaty of Paris is signed after years of debate, founding what is now the European Union, expanded by the Treaty of Rome in 1957
• 1972: Munich massacre marks the rise of terrorism
• 1989: Fall of Communism, reunification of Germany and end of the Cold War era.
• 2001: September 11, 2001 attacks
• 2002: The Euro coin is introduced in the Eurozone of the EU, immediately surpassing the U.S. dollar in terms of money in circulation.^[1]

Related Pages

• Institute of Contemporary History

References

1. ^ Financial Times, December 2006

External links

• Journal of Contemporary History
• Contemporary History Institute