The Story of the World Volume 4: The Modern Age

The Story of the World Volume 4: The Modern Age by Susan Wise Bauer completes the beloved four-volume history series with a panoramic survey of world events from 1850 to the present. This revised edition covers the most transformative era in human history — from the age of imperialism through two world wars, the Cold War, decolonization, and into the 21st century — all told through the engaging narrative style that has made the series a homeschool cornerstone.

Volume 4 guides students through the unification of Italy and Germany, the Scramble for Africa, the fall of the Ottoman Empire, World War I and the Treaty of Versailles, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, World War II and the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, the Cold War and space race, the civil rights movement, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the rise of globalization. The book gives equal attention to events in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, offering students a genuinely global understanding of the modern world.

Bauer's writing makes even the most complex geopolitical events understandable for young readers. She explains causes and consequences without oversimplifying, helping students see how one historical event leads to another. Difficult topics like war and genocide are handled thoughtfully and age-appropriately, giving parents confidence that their children are getting an honest but sensitive treatment of modern history.

As with all volumes in the series, this book is designed for the classical education four-year cycle. Younger students (grades 1–4) enjoy it as a read-aloud, while older students (grades 5–8) can read independently and discuss the material at a deeper level. The companion Activity Book provides narration exercises, mapwork, timeline activities, and hands-on projects for every chapter.

Completing the full Story of the World cycle gives students something rare: a coherent, chronological understanding of how human civilization developed from ancient times to today. Volume 4 brings it all together, showing how the threads of earlier volumes weave into the world students live in now.