18971990

18971990 is a compact date range formed by joining the years 1897 and 1990. In bibliographic, archival, and scholarly contexts, such a notation can indicate a time window that spans from the late 19th century to the late 20th century. It is not a formal historical period but a convenient label for collections, lifespans, or studies that cover this interval.

The span encompasses major historical transformations, including late industrialization, the rise and impacts of modern technologies, two world wars and their aftermath, the interwar period, postwar reconstruction, extensive decolonization, the Cold War, and the early stages of the information age. It reflects broad social, political, and cultural shifts that occurred over roughly a century.

Uses of the term are varied. It may describe the career or lifespan of individuals who lived between 1897 and 1990, the operating years of organizations, or the coverage window of academic or cultural projects. Researchers might apply it to datasets, artist–author catalogs, or documentary collections where precise year-by-year markup is impractical.

Limitations and considerations include its coarse granularity and lack of precise boundaries. Because 1990 is an endpoint rather than a defined era, the label can obscure more nuanced periodizations within the century, such as the differences between prewar and postwar decades or regional historical trajectories.

See also: 1890s, 1990s, 19th century, 20th century.