The interwar period lasted from 1918 to 1939, between World War I and World War II. It was a time of rebuilding and change in many countries. Governments and economies faced new challenges.
The Great Depression in the 1930s caused widespread economic hardship. Unemployment increased, and industries slowed in many regions. New political systems developed in some countries during this time.
Efforts to maintain peace included the League of Nations, an international organization. Despite these efforts, tensions grew in Europe and Asia. The period ended with the start of World War II in 1939.