1900

1900 was a year in the Gregorian calendar at the turn of the 20th century. It was not a leap year, and it featured a number of political, cultural, scientific, and technological developments that would influence global affairs in the following decades.

Among the major events, the Paris Exposition Universelle opened in spring 1900 and ran throughout the year, celebrating culture, industry, and invention with extensive use of electric power and elaborate pavilions. The 1900 Summer Olympics also took place in Paris as part of the Exposition, marking a formative chapter in the modern Olympic movement and featuring a wide range of sports. In China, the Boxer Rebellion continued to affect international relations as foreign powers intervened or prepared to intervene to protect citizens and interests. The Second Boer War was ongoing in southern Africa, shaping imperial policy and military strategy in the British Empire.

Economically and politically, the United States enacted the Gold Standard Act in March 1900, formalizing gold-backed currency and capping debates over monetary policy that had persisted since the 19th century. In Britain, the Labour Representation Committee, a coalition of trade unions and socialist groups, was formed in 1900 to advocate for labor interests in Parliament, laying the groundwork for the later Labour Party. Technological advances included the first flight of a Zeppelin airship, the LZ 1, which demonstrated the potential of powered air travel and influenced the development of lighter-than-air craft.

The year 1900 thus reflected a world increasingly connected by imperial structures, modern transportation, and global exhibitions that showcased science, industry, and culture, while political movements and conflicts foreshadowed many 20th-century trajectories.