Why the world of today is like it is, and why it will continue to be characterized by these events for many years to come. This is elucidated by the selected "junctures" of the last 200 years from politics, business and economics, technology, and the arts. From the Congress of Vienna to the EU elections, from the talkies to cyborgs, this book presents a panoramic look at our modern world from 14 different perspectives.