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The nuclear age and the jet age and the first electronic computers appeared in the 1940's and the space age followed closely in the 50's. The difference in technology between 1900 and 1950 is far greater than between 1950 and today. So my vote would be the 1940's...
Have we forgotten about transportation net works: intercontinental, inter-state, urban, suburban, etc: from the 1870s - 1920s intensively, and the Interstate highway system of the 1950s-early 70s?
1820's? Before the railroad most people never went more that 25 miles from their home. Railroad built nations and national identities out of burghs and provinces. They created new ways for people to move, work, live and think. I think steel got firmly entrenched in the 1820's as well. It changed landscapes and its furnaces made night into day. Factories became places where men worked, not just women.
Generally, I think the 19th century was the greatest one for technological change. And just change, period.
I would probably say the 90s for the West and the 00s for the rest of the world. Overall the biggest change is definitely electrification which started in the late 19th century but it's been an ongoing process that still isn't complete and took quite a few decades even in western countries.
What changed the world radically was the invention of the steam engine. It powered factories, electric generators, ships, trains, etc. No single invention has ever changed the world so much, catapulting mankind forwards. Steam ships made the world smaller.
It eliminated famines as food could be taken very quickly from other continents in fast steam ships.
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