18791938

1879–1938 denotes a historical span that covers late 19th‑century industrial expansion, the upheavals of the first world war, and the convulsions of the interwar era. It was shaped by rapid technological change, shifting political orders, and the emergence of new social and cultural movements across many regions.

Technological and economic developments accelerated during this period. The year 1879 is often cited for the practical electric light bulb, a milestone that helped drive electrification, urbanization, and modern consumer society. Across the early 20th century, rail, steel, chemicals, telecommunications, and mass production transformed economies and daily life.

World War I (1914–1918) remade political borders and institutions. Empires collapsed, new states emerged, and political thinking was profoundly unsettled by revolutionary movements, including the Russian Revolution of 1917. The postwar era saw attempts at international cooperation, economic stabilization, and social reform, though these efforts were uneven and contested.

During the 1920s and 1930s, global economies fluctuated and ideologies polarized. The Great Depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s intensified hardship and fueled political extremism in several countries. By the end of the 1930s, totalitarian regimes consolidated power in parts of Europe and Asia, while militarization and territorial ambitions increased tensions that would culminate in a broader conflict.

Scholars view 1879–1938 as a conduit between industrial modernity and the upheavals that shaped the mid‑20th century, highlighting how science, capital, and political ideas interacted to redefine sovereignty, culture, and everyday life.