As the 20th century began, cities were still lit by gas lamps and Queen Victoria ruled an empire from the British throne. But before long, all this was changing, and this documentary, the first in a 10-volume series chronicling the entire century, focuses on how society, especially in America, underwent startling transformations. Relying mostly on archival footage and still photographs, this video does a generally good job of showing what the first decade of the century was like, though some obvious factual mistakes do appear (such as a mention of the Brooklyn Bridge opening after the turn of the century, when it had already been open for nearly 20 years). Some major themes covered are the great industrial changes, the massive influx of immigrants to the U.S., and the dire problems faced by blacks. Besides the obvious political changes, such as America"s rise to the level of a world power under the direction of President Theodore Roosevelt, the program also pays attention to cultural events, including early films shown in nickelodeons, the prevalence of vaudeville shows, and even the children"s books of Beatrix Potter. The video ends by noting that armed conflicts were beginning to break out in the Balkans, a circumstance that foreshadowed conflicts that would resonate throughout the rest of the century. --Robert J. McNamara