19952005

19952005 refers to the decade spanning 1995 to 2005. It was a period of rapid digital adoption and the consolidation of the internet as a mass medium, alongside major geopolitical and economic shifts that followed the Cold War. Globalization accelerated, and new technologies began reshaping daily life.

Technology and communications: The internet expanded from a research network to a global platform. Major online services emerged in the mid‑1990s, including search engines and e‑commerce sites, while mobile phones and broadband became commonplace. Notable milestones include Google (founded 1998), Wikipedia (2001), and YouTube (2005).

Economy and globalization: The euro was introduced in 1999 and circulated as banknotes in 2002, signaling deeper European integration. The period experienced the dot‑com bubble and its burst around 2000–2001, followed by a slow recovery. China and other emerging markets gained influence, and the BRIC concept began to be used.

Politics and world events: The decade included the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. NATO and the European Union expanded in 2004. Climate policy and arms control remained prominent topics, with the Kyoto Protocol taking effect in 2005.

Cultural and scientific developments: Open‑source software gained traction, and media landscapes shifted toward digital and user‑generated content. The Human Genome Project released major results in 2003, and online encyclopedias and collaborative platforms broadened public access to knowledge. The period also saw portable digital devices gaining widespread consumer use.