19361990

1936–1990 is a historical span that begins in the mid-1930s and extends through the end of the Cold War era. It covers the buildup to World War II, the conflict itself, and the subsequent global reshaping of politics, economies, and societies that defined much of the 20th century.

Key events and themes define the period. The Spanish Civil War of 1936 foreshadowed broader ideological battles, while World War II (1939–1945) redrew national borders, led to the creation of international organizations such as the United Nations in 1945, and set the stage for postwar reconstruction and decolonization. The ensuing decades saw the emergence of a new international order, the division of much of the world into opposing blocs during the Cold War, and significant political, economic, and social transformations in nearly every region.

Economically, the period featured postwar reconstruction, the spread of industrialization, and later challenges such as oil shocks and inflation in the 1970s. Socially, it witnessed civil rights movements, feminist movements, and widespread urbanization and modernization. Technological and scientific advances, including the space program, computing, and communications, transformed daily life and global connectedness.

The late 1980s culminated in political shifts that ended bipolar confrontation, with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and German reunification in 1990, signaling the approaching dissolution of the Soviet-led bloc. The era remains a focal point for analyses of modernization, globalization, and the evolution of international institutions and norms.