History of the World Industrial Exhibitions of the XIX-XX centuries. From 1851 to 1985, 40 world exhibitions were held. Each of them was, as it were, the hallmark of the time, because it demonstrated the achievements of culture, science and technology of its time in different countries and gave, as it were, a generalized picture of the world state in these areas. The path from the first World Exhibition in London to the EKSPO-85 in Tsukuba (Japan) reflects the progress made by humanity in many areas of activity.