18381916

1838–1916 denotes a time span that covers the late 19th century and the early 20th century. It can refer to the lifespan of individuals born in 1838 who died in 1916, or to the broader historical processes that unfolded during those years.

Political and social transformations included the consolidation of nation-states in Europe, the expansion of empires, and widespread reforms. The unification of Germany in 1871 and ongoing state-building in various regions helped shape continental dynamics. Liberal and socialist movements gained traction, and women’s suffrage campaigns emerged in several countries. Colonial expansion intensified in Africa and Asia, while anti-colonial and nationalist currents began to challenge existing orders in some areas.

Economic and technological change drove profound shifts. The Second Industrial Revolution deepened the shift to machine production, steel, and new energy sources. Railways and steamships linked distant markets, while communication networks grew; the telephone (invented in 1876) and electric light (commercialized in 1879) transformed daily life and business. Scientific advances accelerated, including X-ray discovery in 1895 and early developments in wireless communication, aviation, and other technologies entering public use in the early 20th century.

Culture and intellectual life reflected and propelled change. Realism and naturalism influenced literature and the arts, alongside the emergence of impressionism and the early stirrings of modernist movements. The period also saw broadening access to education, literacy, and mass media, fueling new ideas and public discourse.

The era culminated in the global crisis of World War I, which began in 1914. By 1916, the war’s scale and political realignments had already reshaped international relations and set the stage for postwar transformations.