21st Century

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The 21st century, lasting from January 1st 2000 to December 31st 2099, is the 1st century of the 2nd Millenium CE. It separates the Nuclear Age(1945-2050) and the Early Interplanetary Era(2050-2250). Highlights included the Uneasy Peace, the beginnings of space colonization, and the Information Era. The utilization and settling of space served as a massive secondary theater to the troubles of Earth.

In the West, the European Commonwealth became a leader in medical development. The United States competed primarily with China and the Soviet Union in driving space colonization, with multiple other powers participating. The Cascade-Pacific Republic, with Canada, focused on robust domestic improvements. In the East, Sino-Soviet relations strengthened, primarily under the leadership of Qiao Luoyang and Rostov Victorovich. The countries surrounding China consolidated their defense and leadership to better counter the threat of China. The Soviet Union supported several proxy wars in the Middle East in order to secure more oil, with the continued breakup of the region serving as a backdrop. Significant Chinese investment made its way into Africa, as did a large amount of competing European investment.

In space, Luna became the first extraplanetary body largely settled, with the first colonies being formed in the 2010s, and several large cities existing by the 2060s, as a result of heavily discounted immigration from Earth, spurred on by the Millenium Agreement and an ever-increasing amount of space-capable airports. With mankind getting its toes wet, expeditions and colony ventures, having gained experience with Luna, headed across the solar system.

Key issues of the century included privacy laws, the rights of individuals, the rise of war and alternative governments, the policing of space, the pollution of extraplanetary bodies, the role of government, climate change, digitalization, poverty, and the role of government.