https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/activity-opener-what-s-new 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Activity: What's New? Has the pace of change accelerated in the last century? Decide for yourself by reviewing several recent technologies. article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/article-population-explosion-and-environmental-trends-1800-to-the-present 2025-08-12T03:52:41.296842565Z Population Explosion and Environmental Trends, 1800 to the Present Our changing climate is one of the most talked-about current events. It's a story that started with industrialization, but we're in the middle of it. We control how it ends. article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/activity-comparing-the-most-populous-cities-by-century-1500-to-present 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Activity: Comparing the Most Populous Cities by Century, 1500 to Present Why did populations increase from 1500 to today? By analyzing demographic data, we can discover the reasons behind these monumental changes. article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/article-the-great-acceleration 2025-08-12T03:52:41.296842565Z The Great Acceleration This article introduces the idea of the Great Acceleration—a dramatic surge in technological advances since 1945. article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/v/watch-green-revolution 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Green Revolution In this video, scholar Eman M. Elshaikh introduces the Green Revolution, which refers to agricultural technology transfers aimed at reducing world hunger, mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. The set of policies and aid initiatives also had a political element within the context of the Cold War. Aid from the US was linked to the belief that extreme poverty and hunger might turn populations to communist political movements. Debate continues over the benefits and costs of the programs, based on disagreements about sustainability, US corporate benefits, and whether the Green Revolution actually made things measurably better in the long run. Eman Elshaikh video https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka_thumbnails_cache/52a32b0f-6dd4-46f6-a103-d59c730f8aba_1280_720_base.png Green Revolution In this video, scholar Eman M. Elshaikh introduces the Green Revolution, which refers to agricultural technology transfers aimed at reducing world hunger, mainly in the 1950s and 1960s. The set of policies and aid initiatives also had a political element within the context of the Cold War. Aid from the US was linked to the belief that extreme poverty and hunger might turn populations to communist political movements. Debate continues over the benefits and costs of the programs, based on disagreements about sustainability, US corporate benefits, and whether the Green Revolution actually made things measurably better in the long run. https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/015HH9zbWHQ.mp4/015HH9zbWHQ.mp4 600 The Great Acceleration | 9.4 https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/v/watch-eradicating-smallpox 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Eradicating Smallpox As we battle this pandemic and seek to prevent the next, we might look to history for lessons. The worst disease that has ever afflicted humanity is also the only one we’ve ever eradicated. Dr. Larry Brilliant lived this history as part of the global campaign to end smallpox. In this video, he reflects on the long history of humanity’s battle against smallpox and how the world finally found the public will to defeat its old foe at the end of the twentieth century. World History Project video https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka_thumbnails_cache/e75100bd-fc5d-457e-b7c9-f91eefeb3275_1280_720_base.png Eradicating Smallpox As we battle this pandemic and seek to prevent the next, we might look to history for lessons. The worst disease that has ever afflicted humanity is also the only one we’ve ever eradicated. Dr. Larry Brilliant lived this history as part of the global campaign to end smallpox. In this video, he reflects on the long history of humanity’s battle against smallpox and how the world finally found the public will to defeat its old foe at the end of the twentieth century. https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/CXigqU9EDbk.mp4/CXigqU9EDbk.mp4 863 The Great Acceleration | 9.4 https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/activity-debate-is-change-accelerating 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Activity: Debate—Is Change Accelerating? In this debate, you'll join a team to argue whether innovation can keep up with the accelerating challenges of our modern world. Use evidence, test claims, and prepare to defend your position! article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/a/activity-closer-time-traveler-letter-origins 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z Activity: Time-Traveler Letter Imagine you're a time traveler, visiting the year 1945. How would you explain the ways the world have changed since then? article https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/world-history/x66f79d8a:globalization/x66f79d8a:the-great-acceleration-9-4/e/9-3-and-9-4-practice 2026-06-30T12:40:47.173333589Z The Great Acceleration Practice what you learned in lessons 9.3 and 9.4! Jessica Shattuck exercise