Question

what is the difference between 2002 and 2012 in history?

Answer 1

One decade and a whole lot of technology as well as expansion in democracy over the world.

Answer 2

In the scope of thousands of years of history...it's nothing. Unlike the 80's which brought about home computing and the 90's which introduced the internet, not much has really changed. To us, 10 years ago seems very far and arcaic, but except for devices getting smaller and faster there's no real change. We had mobile phones, smart cars, laptops. It's post 9/11 so global terrorism was a concern as it is today. In the scope of history 2002-2012 isn't that notable.

Answer 3

It's really what one defines as change. I think that the shift was decidedly subtle but important, regardless.

Answer 4

Watch, it's important to us because we're living right now. There are certain things happening that *could* prove to be significant, but right now, after 2001 there have been few historically significant events. Even the election of a half-black American president really isn't a big deal. Kennedy's election...with him being a Catholic...was a much bigger deal since America was set up to get away from the psudeo-Catholic Anglican church. Every decade when studied in detail has something that occurs, but overall 100 or 1,000 years from now I'm not sure something will leap to mind as the great innovation or event for the past decade.

Answer 5

@r.arena I still disagree, but appreciate the way that you describe looking at the fundamental changes in history over the expanse of a larger picture.
In my opinion, modern history isn't that important to the individual today, because it isn't as .. abrupt, if that makes sense. Progression of events happens in a way that it is subtle and a shift thus becomes less noticeable in the scheme of things. C. Wright Mills (sociologist) described the flow of people's lives as singular to the flow of history, seemingly normal to them.
The last ten years has been momentous, in my opinion, even in the scheme of 1000 years, because it marks a shift/outcome/change. It doesn't matter that 10 years is a blink of the eye compared to 1000.
Why?
Mostly the greater use of technology, namely the computer. Of course, the computer was invented earlier than the 2000s, but the personal computer (and widespread use due to improvement) only appeared really in the past 10 years.
I think it can be compared to Gutenberg's printing press. This invention is easily recognizable as a monumental change by many because it allowed information to reach the lower classes of society, increased education & literacy, allowed for the spread of ideas and the advent of democracy.
The computer is a continuation of this, and has resulted in globalization, greater access to education (and thus improvement in quality of life), and trends suggest a sort of leveling of civilizations in this time period (in terms of lifespan and GDP), which may be accounted to the new opportunities and better mobilization via communication the computer has provided.

But almost like you said; it's hard to see the early 2000s in the great expanse of history, despite what is known about the effects of this shift, because. ..
We're still in the early 2000s. It's too soon to see what this will become, and the implications of it. Same thing goes for some of what you said, like having a black president (more of an effect) and soforth.
:)