18991938

1899–1938 is a conventional way to denote a historical span that begins at the end of the 19th century and ends on the eve of World War II. The period witnessed rapid industrialization, urbanization, and scientific breakthroughs that transformed everyday life and global power dynamics.

World War I (1914–1918) disrupted empires, redrew national borders, and contributed to lasting political changes in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The postwar settlement, including the Treaty of Versailles, produced new states and institutions, while economic and social strains helped shape later developments.

The 1920s brought modernization, cultural experimentation, and relative economic expansion in some regions, followed by the Great Depression after 1929, which intensified unemployment, social unrest, and political extremism in several countries.

The early 1930s saw the rise of authoritarian movements in parts of Europe and elsewhere. By the end of the decade, policies of aggression and expansion, such as Germany's remilitarization and the persecution of minorities, culminated in events like Kristallnacht and heightened fears of a wider war.

In historical writing, the label 1899–1938 is also used to indicate the lifespan of individuals born in 1899 who died in 1938. The period thus carries both macro-historical significance and biographical relevance for figures associated with these years.