18751950

1875–1950 refers to the historical span between the years 1875 and 1950. It covers the late phase of the Industrial Revolution, the expansion of national states, and two world-scale conflicts that reshaped borders, economies, and societies.

During this period, technology and industry advanced rapidly. Electrification, improved steel production, and the growth of rail, road, and air transport transformed daily life and production. Mass production, consumer goods, and urbanization altered social structures, while new communication networks linked distant regions more closely than before.

In world politics, imperial competition waned in some areas and intensified in others. The outbreak of World War I in 1914 led to massive geopolitical changes and the dissolution of several empires. The interwar years were marked by political experimentation, economic difficulty, and efforts at international cooperation, including the formation of the League of Nations. The rise of totalitarian movements and the global economic distress of the Great Depression from 1929 onward contributed to further instability.

Science and culture also evolved substantially. Physics and chemistry advanced with theories such as relativity and quantum mechanics, while medicine benefited from breakthroughs like the identification of penicillin. Modernist movements in arts and literature reflected broader social upheavals and changing perceptions of modern life.

World War II (1939–1945) caused widespread devastation but also led to the creation of the United Nations in 1945 and a reshaping of international order. The immediate postwar period saw reconstruction, the beginning of decolonization, and the early stages of the Cold War, setting patterns that influenced global affairs well into the latter half of the 20th century.