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Contemporary History 1914–1945: Periodisation

Periodisation means cutting the long road of time into named periods so we can study it. Many courses start "contemporary" (newest) history in 1914, when World War I began, and study 1914–1945 as one block: the first war, the short peace between the wars, and the second war. Where to cut is a choice, so always check which cut your book uses.

🎬 Step-by-step story

  1. This is a road of time from 1900 to 1950. It is 50 years long. That is too much to study in one go.
  2. Historians cut the road into chunks and give each a name and a colour. This is called periodisation.
  3. We cut at 1914. World War I began, and the world changed fast. Many courses start contemporary history here.
  4. The chunk from 1918 to 1939 is only 21 years: a short peace between two wars. Short chunks are fine if they tell a clear story.
  5. Slide the year yourself. Every year falls in one chunk. Other books may cut at 1789 or 1945, so check your book.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

Why do we cut history into periods at all?

Fifty years or a thousand years is too much to hold in the mind. Names and colours help us organise, remember and compare.

Who decides where the cut goes?

Historians and the people who write the syllabus. They pick events that changed things a lot and explain their reason.

Did the world really change on exactly 1914?

No. Changes build up slowly. The pole at 1914 is a handy marker, not a magic switch.

Why is a short block of 21 years given its own name?

Length does not matter. What matters is one clear story: the peace deals, new states, the League, the Depression and the rise of dictators.

Why does my other book start at 1945?

It picks another big change (the end of World War II). Both are valid cuts. Use the one your syllabus follows, and know the reason.

Is the road before 1914 not history?

It is history too. It is just a different period with another name.

What is periodisation?

History is a very long story. To study it, we cut it into periods, like chapters. Cutting time into named periods is called periodisation.

A period has a start, an end and a name. The name tells us what we think was important in that time: for example "the Middle Ages" or "the age of empires".

Periods are made by people, not by nature. Nobody woke up on 1 January 1914 and said "a new era has begun".

Why 1914? The start of contemporary history

Many history courses use contemporary history (also called "newest history") for the time that began with World War I in 1914. Why that year?

So 1914 works as a clear "before and after" line.

The three blocks of 1914–1945

In this course the years 1914–1945 are studied in three blocks:

  1. 1914–1918: World War I.
  2. 1918–1939: the years between the wars, with new countries, the League of Nations, the Great Depression and dictators. About 21 years.
  3. 1939–1945: World War II.

The second war grew out of problems left by the first, so the three blocks are one connected story.

Other ways to cut time

Not every book cuts at 1914. Some start contemporary history in 1789 (the French Revolution) and some in 1945 (the end of World War II). All can be right: they give different reasons.

A good student does two things: learns the dates the syllabus uses, and can say why the cut was made there.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. Which period does the year 1930 belong to in this course?

1930 lies between 1918 and 1939, so it is in the "between the wars" block.

2. Why is 1914 chosen as the start of contemporary history by many courses?

World War I began in 1914. It involved whole societies, brought new weapons and led to the fall of empires. So it makes a clear line between "before" and "after".

3. How long is the whole block 1914–1945?

1945 − 1914 = 31 years. That is one war (4), a short peace (21) and another war (6): 4 + 21 + 6 = 31.

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. Periodisation means:
2. Contemporary history in this course starts in:
3. The years 1918–1939 are called:
4. World War II lasted from 1939 to:
5. Different books may cut history at different dates because:

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

What is contemporary history?

It is the most recent part of history. Many courses start it in 1914 with World War I; others start in 1945 or 1789. The start is a choice, and books explain their reason.

What is periodisation in history?

It is dividing the past into named periods, like chapters, so that we can study and talk about it in an organised way.

Why is the period 1914–1945 studied together?

The two world wars and the short peace between them are linked: the first war and its peace deals left problems that helped cause the second war.

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