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La Belle Epoque, or The Beautiful Time, is a tough period to get your head around. So much was happening so quickly: technological innovation, increased standard of living, mass political parties, changes in ideas of family and marriage, scientific advances, philosophical advances, the beginning of psychology, new forms of art, the feminist movement, imperialism in Africa and Asia, and attempts to maintain the European balance of power. See what I mean?
Essentially, the era was a time of sweeping change, when Europe seemed to be on the verge of harnessing the power of the mind and technology to move ever closer to the perfect society. It was a time of optimism and promise, at least for those in the upper and middle classes. Working classes saw improvements, but they still mired in economic uncertainty and struggle, a situation publicized by the writings of Charles Dickens, most famously. It was also a time of contradictions. European supremacy in world reached its largest extent, backed up by scientific theories that justified a Social Darwinist or racist ideology. Incomes rose, but they were quickly gobbled up by new products and leisure activities. The perfect society was on the horizon, but women were still regarded as less than men and denied the vote. Finally, the delicate balance of power was threatened. Bismarck's vision of an isolated France disappeared when he was fired by the new Kaiser, Wilhelm II. Slowly but surely, Germany lost allies who found few options other than allying with France. By 1914, the continent stood divided between two highly-armed and opposing camps. All it would take was a reason for war. That would come in the fateful summer of 1914, and the ensuing war would shatter European visions of societal progress. This, then, is the story of a complicated time. But the innovations and practices of La Belle Epoque would transform European history and the history of the entire world until the modern day. |
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Class Documents
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Screencast Lecture Notes for Chapter 24
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Homework Assignments
Assignment 1: Second Industrial Revolution
Assignment 2: Responses to Industrialization
Assignment 3: Population Growth
Assignment 4: The Family
Assignment 5: Leisure Time
Assignment 6: Science and Philosophy
Assignment 7: Modernism in Art and Literature
Assignment 8: Politics in the Early 20th Century
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Assignment 9: African Imperialism
Assignment 10: Asian Imperialism
Assignment 11: European Diplomacy
Assignment 12: Study for Period 3 Cumulative TestPrimary SourcesE. Lavasseur, On Parisian Department Stores
Henry Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor Eduard Bernstein, Evolutionary Socialism Octavia Hill, Homes of the London Poor Elizabeth Poole Sanford, Woman in Her Social and Domestic Character Henrik Ibsen, A Doll's House H.B. Tristan, "Going Strong" Sigmund Freud, Five Lectures on Psychoanalysis Arthur Rimbaud, The Drunken Boat Emmeline Pankhurst, My Own Story Theodor Herzl, The Jewish State An Account of Bloody Sunday Rudyard Kipling, The White Man's Burden Edward Morel, The Black Man's Burden Friedrich Fabri, Does Germany Need Colonies? |