18411931

1841–1931 denotes the historical span from the year 1841 through 1931. This period covers the late phase of the Industrial Revolution, a time of rapid social, political and technological change that transformed many parts of the world. It includes the ascendancy of modern nation-states, imperial expansion and, in the latter decades, the upheavals and reorganizations following World War I.

Industrial and technological developments defined daily life in the mid-to-late 19th century. Railways, steam power, the telegraph and later electricity accelerated commerce and governance. The second half of the century saw large-scale industrialization, urbanization, and scientific advances that laid the groundwork for modern economies and infrastructures.

At the turn of the 20th century, culture and politics diversified. Innovations in art and music, alongside scientific revolutions, altered worldviews. The early decades of the century witnessed imperial rivalries, and the emergence of mass media and consumer society. The Wright brothers' first powered flight in 1903 and widespread automotive use showcased new mobility.

World War I (1914–1918) was a defining rupture, reshaping borders and political orders and accelerating changes in technology and society. The postwar era included the 1919–1920s settlement processes, social reforms, and economic volatility. The global economy endured the 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression, with consequences that extended into the early 1930s.

Because the dates span many regions, the period is not uniform. It is used in historiography to indicate a broad epoch characterized by industrial expansion, geopolitical upheaval, and cultural transformation that culminated in the interwar era.