While the September 11 attacks undoubtedly reshaped global geopolitics and security paradigms, this analysis challenges whether they truly marked the century's genesis. The article examines competing pivotal moments—including technological breakthroughs, economic shifts, and environmental crises—that fundamentally transformed modern society. By juxtaposing these watershed events, we explore which historical inflection point genuinely defines our contemporary world and shaped the trajectory of international relations, culture, and technology in the decades following 2001.

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