18501928

1850–1928 denotes a historical span that covers much of the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Historians use such year ranges to frame periods defined by rapid change in technology, economics, politics, and culture. The century began with accelerating industrialization and the expansion of railways and telecommunication networks, while many states consolidated and expanded their empires across Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Key developments include advances in science and industry, urbanization, and the emergence of mass politics. The Meiji Restoration and rapid modernization in Japan, Italian unification in the previous decade, and ongoing imperial expansion illustrate the global reach of this period. By the 1910s, globalization intensified through trade, finance, and cultural exchange. Social reform movements and new ideologies also gained prominence as populations grew and mobilized.

World War I (1914–1918) and the Russian Revolution of 1917 reshaped borders and political orders. The postwar era brought reconstruction, economic fluctuation, and shifts in culture and governance as nations reevaluated international norms. In 1928, a notable scientific milestone occurred with the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, signaling advances in medicine that would transform public health in the following decades. The era also saw rapid changes in art, cinema, and popular culture, reflecting broader modernization.

Overall, 1850–1928 is viewed as a transitional window from the long 19th century to the modern era, marked by mechanization, imperial networks, and the emergence of contemporary political and cultural orders across many regions.