The decades after World War 2 were defined by the Cold War, a tense global standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period also saw the dismantling of colonial empires, a struggle for independence, and the reshaping of world politics.

In this episode of The World History Curriculum Companion, we review the key events of the Cold War from a world history perspective. We’ll also cover China's turn to communism after its civil war, the Partition of India and its lasting impact, and African decolonization movements. From proxy wars to independence movements, this episode covers the major changes that shaped the modern world.

This episode is designed to accompany our unit plan on the Cold War Era for our complete World History curriculum, which includes resources and lessons designed for middle school and high school classrooms.

Students of History provides engaging lessons and resources for every unit in World History, along with US History, Civics & Government, and World Geography. You can learn more at StudentsofHistory.com.