18th20thcentury

The term 18th–20th century refers to a broad historical span roughly from the early 1700s to the end of the 20th century. It encompasses the late early modern period through the high modern era. Historians vary in their framing, with some extending interpretations into the 21st century, but the conventional view centers on the transformation from traditional, often agrarian societies to diverse, industrialized, and globalized states.

Key features of this period include political revolutions, the spread of liberal and nationalist ideologies, industrialization and urbanization, global expansion and colonial empires, scientific progress and secularization, and evolving legal and educational systems. The century-by-century dynamics differ, yet they are linked by processes of modernization, state-building, and shifts in power.

The 18th century saw Enlightenment thought influencing politics, science, and culture, promoting ideas about rights, reason, and governance. The 19th century featured rapid industrialization, the rise of capitalism, technological innovation, social reform movements, abolition of slavery in many regions, and the consolidation of nation-states and empires. The 20th century was marked by global conflicts, including two world wars, the emergence of totalitarian regimes, decolonization, and the Cold War, followed by substantial political realignments and rapid technological change in communications, transport, medicine, and computing.

Impact and legacy of the 18th–20th centuries include foundational aspects of contemporary political institutions, economic systems, and cultural norms. They established patterns of globalization, interdependence, and conflict over sovereignty, rights, and resources that continued to shape global history into the present.