18871945

18871945 refers to the historical span from the year 1887 to 1945, a period characterized by rapid industrialization, geopolitical change, and sweeping social transformations across much of the world. It covers the late 19th century, the interwar era, and the Second World War, ending with the conclusion of World War II and the beginnings of a new international order.

During this period, industrialization and urbanization reshaped economies, technologies advanced rapidly, and global trade and communication networks expanded. Imperial powers expanded and contracted their empires, while social movements—labor, liberal, nationalist, and reformist—emerged and evolved in response to modernization, inequality, and changing political ideals. Scientific and cultural developments also accelerated, influencing education, science, and public life.

A central arc of the era is the conflict and upheaval of two world wars. World War I (1914–1918) precipitated political revolutions, redrawn borders, and shifts in power. The interwar years were marked by economic instability, social unrest, and the rise of totalitarian movements in some countries. The 1930s saw aggressive expansion by fascist and militarist regimes, culminating in World War II (1939–1945). The war ended with Allied victory in 1945, leading to substantial changes in international relations, the establishment of new institutions, and the onset of decolonization and the Cold War as defining postwar frameworks.

The nineteen-year span is thus a pivot point in modern history, encapsulating the transition from 19th‑century empires to mid‑20th‑century globalization and geopolitical realignment. Notes on significance vary by region, but the period broadly marks the shift toward modern international politics, economy, and society.