18621918

1862–1918 denotes a contiguous interval that spans the latter half of the 19th century and the first two decades of the 20th century. The period witnessed sweeping changes across politics, economy, society, and culture as the world moved from late imperial systems toward modern nation-states and global conflict.

Technological and economic development accelerated with the Second Industrial Revolution, bringing railroads, steel production, electrification, and new communications networks. Urbanization intensified as populations moved to cities and industrial labor markets expanded. Global trade and imperial competition expanded, shaping geopolitical calculations and state policy.

Nation-states and empires redefined borders and governance. Notable shifts included the Meiji Restoration in Japan (1868), the unification of Germany (1871), and ongoing colonial expansion in Africa and Asia during the late 19th century. Nationalism, liberalism, and socialist movements influenced political life, lawmaking, and social reform, contributing to both consolidation of states and social upheaval.

The era culminated in World War I (1914–1918), a global conflict that reshaped borders and political systems. The 1917 Russian Revolution contributed to the rise of new power blocs and altered the course of international relations, setting the stage for major geopolitical changes in the subsequent century.

In culture and science, Realism, Impressionism, and early Modernism broadened artistic expression, while advances in physics, chemistry, and medicine accelerated, providing the groundwork for later scientific breakthroughs and technological innovation.