18811945

1881–1945 is a chronological span used to denote a broad portion of late 19th and early 20th century history. In biographical references, it can indicate a person born in 1881 and died in 1945, though that usage is less common than simply listing the birth and death years.

During this period, industrialization and globalization accelerated. The Second Industrial Revolution brought electrification, steel, chemicals, and expanding railways and shipping networks. Empires expanded and competed for colonies and resources, while social and political movements challenged established orders and reshaped governance, culture, and technology.

World War I (1914–1918) dramatically reshaped borders, economies, and political ideas. The postwar era featured reconstruction, the Versailles settlement, economic volatility, and the rise of new ideologies, including fascism, communism, and various nationalist movements. The interwar years also saw significant cultural and scientific developments amid political upheavals.

The 1930s and early 1940s were defined by greater militarization and regional aggression that culminated in World War II (1939–1945). The conflict involved vast human suffering and ultimately led to Allied victory, the Holocaust, and profound shifts in international power and security concepts. The period closes with efforts to construct a new international framework.

The events of 1881–1945 left a lasting legacy, including the emergence of a more interconnected global order, advances in technology and industry, and the groundwork for postwar institutions and geopolitical realignments that shaped global affairs for decades to come.