Space-time is a concept that combines space and time into a single, interwoven continuum. Hermann Minkowski introduced it in 1908, reformulating Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity. In this model, time is elevated to be mathematically similar to space, creating a four-dimensional structure with coordinates for length, width, height, and time.
Previously, space was considered a flat, three-dimensional stage where events unfolded independently of time. However, relativity demonstrates that space and time are relative to the observer. The speed of light is constant for all observers, leading to phenomena such as time dilation and length contraction. These effects link space and time intervals, forming a four-dimensional space-time.
Einstein’s general theory of relativity further expands this concept by including gravity as a curvature of space-time. Instead of being a force, gravity arises from the shape of space-time, influencing how objects move through it.