19461964

1946–1964 is the historical span immediately following World War II through the mid-1960s. It was characterized by reconstruction, Cold War realignments, and rapid social and technological change. Western Europe rebuilt with U.S. aid and the institutions of the postwar order took shape, including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, while military alliances such as NATO consolidated Western security. At the same time, the Soviet-led bloc expanded its influence in Eastern Europe and other regions.

International conflict and competition dominated international relations. The Korean War (1950–1953) marked a major early Cold War clash, and the Berlin Wall's erection in 1961 became a stark symbol of division. The Cuban Revolution (1959) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) heightened tensions between the superpowers. Meanwhile, decolonization accelerated across Asia and Africa, creating numerous new sovereign states.

Economically, the period saw rapid growth in Western Europe, Japan, and North America, accompanied by rising living standards and expanding consumer markets. Urbanization, education expansion, and social mobility reshaped societies, while movements for civil rights and decolonization challenged existing political orders.

Technological and cultural change accompanied political developments. The space and aerospace programs were launched, communications technology advanced, and television spread widely, altering information and entertainment landscapes. These changes helped set the stage for the late 1960s social revolutions and the continuing modernization of many nations.