18871948

18871948 refers to the historical span from the year 1887 through 1948, a period that encompasses the tail end of the classical industrial era and the formative decades of the modern world. It covers rapid economic and technological change, shifts in political authority, and substantial social transformation across many regions.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, industrialization accelerated urbanization, transportation, and communications, reshaping economies and daily life. Imperial competition and nationalist movements combined with scientific and cultural developments to create a world linked by global markets, empires, and increasingly complex diplomacy. Political systems ranged from constitutional liberalism to emerging movements that would challenge old orders.

World War I (1914–1918) proved a turning point, leading to redrawn borders, the collapse of several empires, and broad social upheaval. The interwar period saw economic volatility, including the Great Depression, and the rise of diverse ideologies such as nationalism, socialism, and authoritarian regimes. Despite fragmentation, this era also produced international initiatives and cultural innovations, including advances in science, technology, and the arts.

World War II (1939–1945) reorganized global power and laid the groundwork for a new international order. In 1945 the United Nations was created to promote cooperation and prevent future conflicts. The late 1940s saw decolonization movements, India’s independence in 1947, the establishment of Pakistan, and the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948, signaling a shift toward universal norms in international law and human rights.