Late-1800s: In the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) France loses the Alsace and Lorraine regions. It is the end of the French monarchy. The war, however, does not slow industrial expansion, which continues at a rapid pace. The artistic and cultural scene flourishes and witnesses the Impressionists, Art Nouveau, and the novels of Flaubert and Zola.

Today: With the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the Soviet Union, the Cold War ends. The U.S. economy thrives, even in the face of "mini-wars " with Iraq and Serbia. The Impressionists still draw a crowd as museums sell out shows of Monet.

Late-1800s: The Industrial Revolution changes the face of England, the Continent, and the United States. Factories are churning out goods at an unprecedented rate.

Today: The Industrial Revolution has moved to other countries where consumer goods, like electronic equipment and clothing, can be manufactured...