19262009

1926–2009 is a continuous span that covers the latter part of the 1920s through the first decade of the 21st century. Used in historical, sociopolitical, and data contexts, the interval captures shifts in governance, technology, culture, and global relations as regions experienced rapid modernization and institutional change.

Key milestones in the early period include the development of liquid-fueled rocketry in 1926, the rise of mass production and aviation, and the onset of the Great Depression after 1929. The 1930s saw rising geopolitical tension and the growth of authoritarian regimes in some regions, culminating in World War II (1939–1945). The war ended with the founding of the United Nations in 1945.

From the postwar era through the end of the Cold War (roughly 1945–1991), the world experienced decolonization, the arms race, and rapid technological progress. Space exploration milestones—Sputnik in 1957, Yuri Gagarin in 1961, Apollo 11 in 1969—highlighted the era. The 1980s brought advances in personal computing and communications, while 1989–1991 saw the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Since 1991, the global landscape has been shaped by information technology and globalization. The public emergence of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s facilitated new economies and media. The 2000s saw the growth of social media, mobile computing, and financial crises, notably the 2008 crisis, with 2009 marking a turning point and ongoing shifts in global economics, governance, and culture.