10 Recent Moments That Changed the World Forever

10 Recent Moments That Changed the World Forever

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re taking a look at 10 moments in history after the year 1900 that had the greatest impact on humankind.

The Launch of Sputnik (1957)

Less than a half century after the Wright Brothers invented the airplane, humanity began sending objects into space. When the Soviet Union launched their Sputnik satellite into orbit, the eyes of the world were lifted upwards to the stars. The space race began, as the U.S. and Russia competed to develop newer and better space-faring technology. More importantly, Sputnik was just the first of thousands of satellites sent into orbit. Global positioning, cell phones, television, and the internet are just a few of the ways satellites are integrated into the 21st century. Satellite surveillance and positioning are key parts of intelligence gathering and military campaigns. Accurate weather forecasting relies on satellite surveillance. Data from satellites are even used for crop management.

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The 20th century was the first that, from the very beginning, saw the rise of globalized international relations. The Treaty of Versailles ended WWI, utterly resculpting the world order. That single document would have profound impacts for the next hundred years. The treaty dismantled entire empires, redrawing borders in Europe and the Middle East. It imposed punitively harsh reparations on Germany, leading to decades of economic hardship and political instability. In their desperation, resentment turned to rage and bigotry as they sought comfort in the arms of autocracy under Adolf Hitler. While intended to secure lasting peace, the Treaty instead laid the groundwork for a second, more costly world war. The treaty’s lasting legacy profoundly reshaped the global political landscape well into the 21st century.

September 11th Attacks (2001)

The September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon radically shifted geopolitics forever. In the wake of the end of the Cold War, the West had shifted into the complacency of a ‘90s boom. One renowned philosopher even called the era “the end of history.” Yeah, not so much. The U.S. and its allies soon invaded Afghanistan. A smaller coalition followed up with another invasion into Iraq, and decades of conflict and turmoil ensued — and are still ongoing. 9/11 had so many repercussions on both individual lives and collective world history.

A (Possible) Anthropocene? (1950-)

Scientists in the late 20th century first began to discuss the possibility that human activity was changing the Earth’s geology and ecosystems in empirically measurable ways. They proposed that the scientific community universally adopt that the earth has entered a new geological era. In 2024, the International Commission on Stratigraphy shot down the idea. Still, its discussion has helped scientists around the world recognize human impact. From altering atmospheric composition through greenhouse gas emissions to widespread biodiversity loss, human actions have changed the planet in ways unprecedented in geological history. The Anthropocene’s acknowledgment has also galvanized global efforts in environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate policy.

Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989)

In retrospect, the collapse of the Soviet Union was likely all-but-inevitable after the death of Leonid Brezhnev. Still, the fall of the Berlin Wall seven years later was the symbol of that collapse. It represented an end to Cold War divisions between East and West. For nearly three decades, the Wall had stood as a physical and ideological barrier between communist East Berlin and capitalist West Berlin. Its demolition accelerated the inexorable dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. In the wake of this change, a new world order was established, dominated by liberal democracies and free-market economies. But later authoritarianism - from China and Russia - also gained footholds in developing nations and economies.

The Great Depression (1929–41)

In 1929, a stock market crash on Wall Street spread economic contagion around the world. The Great Depression was a moment of great change for the world. Widespread economic suffering and hunger led people to rethink the role of government in their lives. Some, like the U.S. with the New Deal, turned to a variety of governmental social welfare systems. Governments were acknowledged to have responsibility to create a social safety net. Other countries turned to the lures of totalitarianism and fascism. They used force and terror to rebuild their empires. This tension between authoritarianism and egalitarianism still defines geopolitics in the 21st century.

Covid-19 Outbreak (2020)

In the fall of 2019, rumors began to bubble up in the U.S. and in Europe about a new flu-like virus in China. No one could have predicted the global devastation that followed. By early 2020, COVID-19 had spread across the planet, leading to widespread lockdowns, crippled economies, and disrupted daily life. Businesses closed, millions lost jobs, and supply chains faltered. Worse was the human suffering. The pandemic claimed over 1 million lives in the U.S. and at least 7 million globally, with some citing 15 million deaths. The psychological impact was also profound - fear, isolation, and uncertainty took a heavy toll on mental health. The world was forever changed, as the virus reshaped how people work, connect, and view public health.

The Invention of the Internet (1960s)

Human civilization is now in its second generation of the internet age. Young people today may have difficulty fully understanding just how much the internet has changed the planet. People in India can video chat in real time with someone in London. Students in South Africa can connect with counterparts in China on social media. The world is smaller and faster than it was 50 years ago. International business now happens at the speed of thought. Political movements have become global. Unfortunately dangers have spread like wildfire, too. Misinformation, propaganda, and conspiracies can now circle the world before the truth wakes up in the morning. Love it, hate it, or both, there can be no doubt: the 21st century is the century of the internet.

The Holocaust (1941-45)

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. In the modern era, where an estimated one in five young Americans don’t believe the Holocaust happened, this statement still rings true. The Holocaust during World War II was Germany’s monstrous systematic state-sponsored persecution and mass murder of millions of Jewish people, as well as other groups the Nazis targeted. It taught the world that turning a blind eye to human rights abuses has horrific consequences. The UN passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, after the war.

Invention of the Assembly Line (1901)

The assembly line was arguably first invented in 1901, but most famously implemented by Henry Ford in 1913. It sparked a global revolution in manufacturing by streamlining production processes. This drastically reduced both the time and cost of making goods. By the middle of the 20th century, the assembly line was the cornerstone of the efficient mass production of standardized products. Prices plummeted, allowing a wider pool of consumers to access goods. It reshaped labor practices, creating specialized roles and repetitive tasks. The assembly line played a crucial role in creating a global marketplace, enabling economies of scale. This shift in production laid the foundation for modern consumer culture. Today, virtually every consumer product, from cars to electronics, was likely created on an assembly line.

What part of history are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments.