18561912

18561912 refers to the period from 1856 to 1912, during which the world underwent rapid transformation in politics, technology, and society. The era began in the aftermath of the Crimean War and ended on the eve of World War I, a time of accelerating globalization and social change.

Political and diplomatic developments included the unifications of Italy (1861) and Germany (1871), the expansion of colonial empires, and reforms in Japan during the Meiji era (begun 1868). The era also saw key infrastructure projects such as the Suez Canal (opened 1869) and the Alaska Purchase (1867).

Economic and technological change was driven by the Second Industrial Revolution: steel, chemicals, electricity, and new transport networks. Inventions such as the telephone (1876), electric light (1879), and the internal combustion engine fueled growth; aviation emerged with the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903; automobiles began to proliferate in the following decade.

Social and intellectual life also changed: advances in medicine and germ theory, the spread of public education, and new political movements, including early labor activism and, in some regions, the beginnings of women's suffrage. Cultural shifts moved toward realism and early modernism in literature and the arts.

The period culminated with events of 1911-1912 such as the Xinhai Revolution in China and the declaration of the Republic of China, and maritime disaster such as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The era ends at a turning point just before World War I, leaving a legacy of industrialization, imperial competition, and social change that shaped the early 20th century.