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The period 1890–1964 spans the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, a time of rapid industrialization, imperial expansion, and profound social upheaval. Innovations in energy, transportation, and communications transformed daily life and global economies, accelerating urbanization and the integration of world markets.

In politics and international affairs, the era witnessed dramatic upheavals and realignments. The late 19th and early 20th centuries featured widespread imperial competition and modernization, followed by World War I (1914–1918), the Russian Revolution of 1917, and the tumultuous interwar years. The Great Depression of the 1930s stressed economies worldwide and contributed to political radicalization in several regions. World War II (1939–1945) reshaped borders and power structures, leading to the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers and the onset of the Cold War. After 1945, decolonization accelerated across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, and the United Nations provided a new framework for international cooperation and conflict resolution.

Social and cultural change accompanied these political and economic shifts. Many countries extended suffrage and worker protections, while education and public health expanded. Scientific breakthroughs in physics and chemistry, including relativity, quantum theory, antibiotics, and synthetic materials, transformed knowledge and industry. The mass media—radio, cinema, and later television—created shared cultural experiences and global awareness.

By 1964, the world had entered a new phase of geopolitical tension and technological possibility, laying the groundwork for the social movements, scientific advances, and economic transformations that would shape the second half of the 20th century.