Modern Era

10 stories

From 9/11 to the digital age. The history that's still being written.

Chinese troops clear a protest in the heart of Beijing with tanks and live rounds. One man stands alone in front of a column of tanks. Nobody knows his name.

The Soviet Union Collapses

On Christmas Day, the hammer and sickle is lowered over the Kremlin for the last time. 15 new countries are born overnight.

Mandela Walks Free

After 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela walks out of Victor Verster prison and into history. Four years later he's President of South Africa.

The Rwandan Genocide

In 100 days, neighbors murder neighbors with machetes. 800,000 dead. The world watches and does almost nothing.

The Yugoslav Wars

A multi-ethnic country tears itself apart along religious and ethnic lines. The word 'genocide' returns to Europe for the first time since WWII.

September 11

Hijacked planes hit the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. A fourth crashes in a Pennsylvania field. The world after this morning is a different one.

The Iraq War

The U.S. invades Iraq looking for weapons that aren't there. Topples Saddam in three weeks. Spends the next decade trying to leave.

The 2008 Financial Crisis

Wall Street's bet on bad mortgages blows up. Lehman Brothers vanishes overnight. The whole global economy nearly goes with it.

The Arab Spring

A Tunisian street vendor sets himself on fire. Within months, dictators across the Arab world are falling. Then it gets complicated.

The COVID-19 Pandemic

A virus from a market in Wuhan locks down the entire planet. Millions die. The world learns the word 'unprecedented' the hard way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What stories does the Modern Era era include?

History Tea covers 10 stories from Modern Era, including Tiananmen Square, The Soviet Union Collapses, Mandela Walks Free, The Rwandan Genocide and 6 more. Each one is retold as immersive audio narration.

Can I listen to Modern Era stories for free?

Yes! All 10 Modern Era stories on History Tea are completely free. Download the app on iOS and start listening today.

What is the Modern Era era about?

From 9/11 to the digital age. The history that's still being written. History Tea retells each Modern Era story as modern, immersive audio you can listen to anywhere.

How long are the Modern Era audio stories?

Each Modern Era story on History Tea runs between 5–15 minutes of immersive audio narration — perfect for a commute, workout, or before bed.