18851948

1885–1948 is a historical span that covers the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. It encompasses rapid industrialization, geopolitical shifts, and two world wars that reshaped borders, economies, and societies worldwide.

The early part of the period saw intensified imperial competition, advances in science and technology, urbanization, and social reform movements across many countries.

World War I (1914–1918) radically altered the international order, leading to new states and the redrawing of boundaries. The Russian Revolution of 1917 introduced a socialist state, influencing political movements around the world. The interwar years experienced economic volatility and the rise of totalitarian regimes in some nations.

World War II (1939–1945) brought existential threats and profound humanitarian consequences, culminating in the defeat of fascist powers. The postwar era saw the creation of the United Nations in 1945 and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Decolonization movements also began to gain momentum in the late 1940s.

Scholars use the 1885–1948 period to study transformations in politics, economics, technology, and culture, including the spread of industrial capitalism, mass communications, modern warfare, and the emergence of new political ideologies and international institutions that shaped the second half of the 20th century.