18851945

1885–1945 is a historical span that covers the late 19th century through the end of World War II. It encompasses profound changes in technology, economy, politics, and society, with regional variation but notable global effects. The period initiated or deepened industrialization and urbanization, the spread of railways and telecommunication, and the emergence of mass-production industries and consumer culture.

Global power structures shifted during this era. European imperial empires expanded into Africa and Asia in the late 19th century, while non-European powers began to challenge established orders in various regions. The period was defined by World War I (1914–1918), the Russian Revolution (1917), and significant geopolitical realignments. The interwar years saw economic instability, the Great Depression starting in 1929, and the rise of totalitarian movements in some countries, alongside liberal democratic experiments elsewhere.

World War II (1939–1945) became a defining event, producing immense casualties, rapid technological and tactical changes, and the redrawing of national borders. The war also accelerated social change, including movements for women’s rights, labor organization, and the early steps toward decolonization in various territories.

The period ends with 1945, a year that marked Allied victory and the creation of new international institutions such as the United Nations, signaling a shift toward a postwar order and laying groundwork for subsequent geopolitical developments.