Contemporary era
The current and recent historical period, whose starting boundary varies by discipline and historical convention.
Modernity: A historical condition associated with industrial society, secular institutions, expanding states, and rapid social change. The contemporary era is often treated as modernity’s latest phase.
French Revolution: The political upheaval in France from 1789 that ended the monarchy and reshaped European politics. Some historical periodizations begin the contemporary era with its revolutionary changes.
United Nations: An intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 to promote international cooperation, peace, and security. It embodies the postwar system of multilateral diplomacy.
Decolonization: The process through which colonies gained independence from imperial powers, especially during the twentieth century. It redrew political maps and expanded the number of sovereign states.
Early modern period: The period between the late Middle Ages and modern history, often dated from about 1500 to 1800. Its earlier boundaries distinguish foundational modern transformations from recent history.
Modern history: The broad historical period following the Middle Ages, commonly beginning around the fifteenth or sixteenth century. The contemporary era is usually placed within this larger period.
Industrial Revolution: The transition to mechanized production that began in Britain in the eighteenth century and transformed economies and societies. Its social and technological transformations underpin early-start definitions of the era.
Nuclear age: The historical period shaped by nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and the possibility of nuclear war. Nuclear weapons changed state power and the stakes of global conflict.
European Union: A political and economic union of European countries with shared institutions and common policies. It represents a distinctive effort to build political cooperation after European wars.
Late modern period: The phase of modern history commonly associated with industrialization and the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is often used for history preceding a narrower, post-1945 contemporary era.