1910s

The 1910s refers to the decade spanning 1910 to 1919. It was a period of rapid change marked by major international conflict, imperial collapse, and social transformation. The central event of the era was World War I (1914–1918), a global conflict that drew in most of the world’s great powers and reshaped borders, economies, and national identities.

Military and geopolitical developments dominated the decade. The war featured trench warfare, large-scale battles across Europe, the use of tanks and aircraft, and expanding naval operations. In 1917 the Russian Revolution led to the creation of a socialist state, while internal upheavals and ongoing warfare contributed to the collapse of several empires, including the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Russian empires. The Chinese constitutional movement culminated in the 1911–1912 revolution that ended the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. The war ended with the 1919 Paris Peace Conference and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, which redrew national boundaries and laid groundwork for later international organizations.

Society and culture during the 1910s saw significant changes in gender roles and social norms, alongside advances in art, literature, and cinema. The suffrage movement gained momentum in several countries, laying groundwork for later gains for women’s voting rights. The decade also experienced a flourishing of modernist movements in art and literature and the rise of cinema as a dominant cultural force. The influenza pandemic of 1918–1919 caused widespread illness and loss, highlighting global interconnectedness and public health challenges.

Economically, industrial production and mass manufacture accelerated, with innovations in transportation, communications, and energy use. The era's technological strides included advancements in aviation and early long-distance wireless communication, signaling the beginnings of an increasingly connected world.