19201966

19201966 refers to the span from 1920 through 1966, a period of profound global change that covers the end of World War I, the interwar years, World War II, and the early decades of the Cold War. It was characterized by rapid industrialization, technological innovation, shifting political ideologies, and broad social transformation.

The interwar era saw economic volatility, social upheaval, and the rise of extremist movements in some countries. The Great Depression of the 1930s altered economies and politics worldwide. World War II (1939–1945) involved most nations, produced unprecedented civilian casualties and genocide, and culminated in the creation of the United Nations and a redefined postwar order. In the following decades, many colonies won independence, altering the global map.

From the late 1940s onward, the Cold War defined international relations, featuring competing blocs, nuclear deterrence, and proxy conflicts. Technological progress accelerated in aviation, electronics, computing, medicine, and space exploration. Economic growth followed for some regions, while others faced stagnation or renewed hardship. The period also saw the beginnings of sustained social movements around civil rights, gender equality, and decolonization.

By 1966 the world had entered a phase of realignment and modernization that would shape the late 20th century, laying groundwork for later political, economic, and cultural developments. The span 1920–1966 is often treated as a bridge between the early modern age and the later century’s globalized order.