The significance of the Berlin Wall in political history lies in its representation of the Cold War divide between East and West. Erected in 1961, it symbolized the ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. The Wall's fall in 1989 marked a pivotal moment leading to the end of the Cold War, the reunification of Germany, and the acceleration of democratic movements across Eastern Europe. It served as a powerful reminder of the human desire for freedom and unity while highlighting the struggles against totalitarianism.