- The era after the end of World War II in 1945, which marked a significant turning point in global history.
- The period characterised by the Cold War, space exploration, decolonisation, and global economic growth that dominated much of the 2nd half of the 20th century.
- The modern or contemporary period, encompassing developments in technology, culture, society and geopolitics that have shaped the world we live in today.
- The timeframe beyond 1940 is used to distinguish it from earlier periods in history, such as the pre-war era or the early 20th century.