Industrialization in Nineteenth Century Europe
One of the most influential centuries during human history is the nineteenth century. During this century the world, especially Europe, experienced radical change--change that revolutionized the world, as everyone knew it to be. It was a century of war, of industrialization, of urbanization, and of nationalism. The major development of the nineteenth century was the Industrial Revolution. Every aspect of the nineteenth century is most likely directly influenced by the Industrial Revolution, from normal everyday life of commoners to the rulers of countries and major powers of Europe. The Industrial Revolution encompassed every area of nineteenth century Europe. Whether it was the technological marvels of the day that influenced European Imperialism, to the hard life of nineteenth century populace, or to the political and social philosophies of the day, the Industrial Revolution stamped its mark on society.
Throughout the nineteenth century, European imperialism dominated the world. "Europeans occupied or controlled thirty-five percent of the land surface of the world; by 1878 this figure had risen to sixty-seven percent, and by 1914 over eighty-four percent of the world's land area was European-dominated." One of the main reasonsif not the main reasonfor European Imperialism during the nineteenth century was the Industrial Revolution. "The effects of technological change were experienced almost everywhere in [the] nineteenth century." The massive amounts of inventions and new technologies being formed brought about the ability to connect the continents, countries, and nations in ways that have never been seen before, but at the same time it allowed nations easier access to conquest for new territories. It is because of the Industrial Revolution that European conquest engulfs the nineteenth century world and Imperialism rules. With
3
industry burning like an uncontrollable fire and Imperialism on the minds of every nation of the nineteenth century
Throughout the nineteenth century, European imperialism dominated the world. "Europeans occupied or controlled thirty-five percent of the land surface of the world; by 1878 this figure had risen to sixty-seven percent, and by 1914 over eighty-four percent of the world's land area was European-dominated." One of the main reasonsif not the main reasonfor European Imperialism during the nineteenth century was the Industrial Revolution. "The effects of technological change were experienced almost everywhere in [the] nineteenth century." The massive amounts of inventions and new technologies being formed brought about the ability to connect the continents, countries, and nations in ways that have never been seen before, but at the same time it allowed nations easier access to conquest for new territories. It is because of the Industrial Revolution that European conquest engulfs the nineteenth century world and Imperialism rules. With
3
industry burning like an uncontrollable fire and Imperialism on the minds of every nation of the nineteenth century
Cited: Dickens, Charles. Hard Times. New York: New American Library. 1997. Headrick, Daniel R. The Tools of Empire Technology and European Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981. Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. New York: Bantam Books, 1992.