18871940

1887–1940 denotes a historical span that begins in the late 19th century and ends at the early years of the Second World War. The era witnessed rapid industrialization, the growth of nation-states, and sweeping social change across continents. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, imperial powers expanded global empires, while urbanization and transportation advances accelerated economic integration and cultural exchange.

World War I (1914–1918) reshaped borders, politics, and society; the Russian Revolution of 1917 produced the first communist state; the postwar period saw brief economic expansion followed by instability. The interwar years featured the rise of totalitarian movements in several countries, the spread of democracy in some, and the creation of international institutions such as the League of Nations. The Great Depression of the 1930s devastated economies and contributed to social discontent and the rise of extremist movements. By 1939 the outbreak of World War II and the early campaigns of 1940 marked a turning point; the world moved toward a new global conflict.

Technological and cultural developments included the expansion of electricity, mass media, aviation, and synthetic materials; changes in gender roles and suffrage in various countries; and cultural movements in art, literature, and film. The period ended with a world on edge, setting the stage for further upheaval in the 1940s.