what was the cold war period

The Cold War period was roughly from 1947 to 1991. It was a geopolitical rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies in the Western and Eastern Blocs. The period started soon after World War II and ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. During this time, there was no direct large-scale fighting between the two superpowers, but they engaged in proxy wars, arms races, ideological competition, and various forms of political and economic conflict.