La Belle Époque[1871-1914]

“The Beautiful Era” or the

Fin de Siècle

La Belle Époque[1871-1914]

“The Beautiful Era” or the

Fin de Siècle

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque1.1. MaterialismMaterialism

Higher standard of livingHigher standard of living

Development “zones”Development “zones”

• Inner ZoneInner Zone Br, Fr, Ger, Belg, Br, Fr, Ger, Belg, No. It,W. AustriaNo. It,W. Austria

• Outer ZoneOuter Zone Ire., Iberian Pen., Ire., Iberian Pen., most of Italy, Europe eastmost of Italy, Europe eastof Ger.of Ger.

• Underdeveloped ZoneUnderdeveloped Zone Afro-Asia Afro-Asia

2.2. Increased European PopulationIncreased European Population

3.3. Growth of Cities & Urban LifeGrowth of Cities & Urban Life

4.4. Migration from EuropeMigration from Europe

1850-1940 1850-1940 60 million left Europe 60 million left Europe

Went to Went to US, Argentina, Brazil, US, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Australia/N. Zeal. Canada, Australia/N. Zeal.

5.5. ““Second” Industrial Revolution- This term refers to Second” Industrial Revolution- This term refers to the second wave of the late 18th century industrial the second wave of the late 18th century industrial movement which was generally focused in the United movement which was generally focused in the United States and Germany. States and Germany.

This second wave, with the movement from domestic This second wave, with the movement from domestic systems of production to factory systems, systems of production to factory systems,

involved heavy involved heavy industry and innovations such as industry and innovations such as mass production.mass production.

Steam Steam electricity electricity

Internal combustion & diesel engines.Internal combustion & diesel engines.

Cars, planes, submarines.Cars, planes, submarines.

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

5. “Second” Industrial Revolution Second” Industrial Revolution Britain Britain “The World’s Industrial “The World’s Industrial Workshop” Workshop”

Corporations Corporations limited liability of limited liability of investments. investments.

Mass production.Mass production.

6.6. Free Trade [esp. in England]Free Trade [esp. in England]

7.7. World Markets [Global Economy, Part II]World Markets [Global Economy, Part II]

8.8. Advance of DemocracyAdvance of Democracy

Extension of the vote to the working Extension of the vote to the working class.class.

Creating a “welfare state.”Creating a “welfare state.”

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

9.9. The Appeal of SocialismThe Appeal of Socialism

By the 1880s, most socialist parties were By the 1880s, most socialist parties were Marxist [esp. Ger. & Fr.]Marxist [esp. Ger. & Fr.]

Sorel’s Revolutionary socialism- to destroy Sorel’s Revolutionary socialism- to destroy capitalism there must be a violent, heroic capitalism there must be a violent, heroic strike against the capialistsstrike against the capialists

Not very successful in England.Not very successful in England.

10.10. Faith in Science AloneFaith in Science Alone

Science at the core of industrialization.Science at the core of industrialization.

““New Wonders” of daily life.New Wonders” of daily life.

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

• Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species [1859]- all existing life [1859]- all existing life forms evolved from earlier forms. forms evolved from earlier forms.

• Life is a constant struggle for survivalLife is a constant struggle for survival

• ““survival of the fittest”survival of the fittest”

• The Descent of ManThe Descent of Man- applied this to - applied this to humanshumans

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

10.10. Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]

““Social Darwinism” Social Darwinism” Herbert Spenser- Herbert Spenser- surivival of the fittest, surivival of the fittest,

Racism- Darwin’s ideas were applied to Racism- Darwin’s ideas were applied to racerace

Newtonian Science turned on its headNewtonian Science turned on its head

• Einstein Einstein “Theory of Relativity” “Theory of Relativity” nature & energy were nature & energy were separate & distinct. separate & distinct.

• Mass is variableMass is variable

• Max Planck Max Planck Quantum Physics- Quantum Physics- asserted that atoms absorb and emit asserted that atoms absorb and emit energy in a series of discrete unites energy in a series of discrete unites rather than a traditional flow. rather than a traditional flow.

• Objective scientific observation can’t Objective scientific observation can’t reveal the ultimate secrets of nature. reveal the ultimate secrets of nature.

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

10.10. Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]

Professionalization of “new” sciences Professionalization of “new” sciences [anthropology, archeaology,etc.][anthropology, archeaology,etc.]

• PsychologyPsychology

Ivan Pavlov Ivan Pavlov conditioned conditioned responsesresponses

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud psychoanalysis psychoanalysis

o The Interpretation of DreamsThe Interpretation of Dreams [1900][1900]

o The role of the unconscious The role of the unconscious [the id, ego, super ego].[the id, ego, super ego].

o Behavior isn’t rational but Behavior isn’t rational but controlled by unconscious controlled by unconscious drives, especially the sex drives, especially the sex drive.drive.

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

11.11. New Trends in PhilosophyNew Trends in Philosophy

AgnosticismAgnosticism

NihilismNihilism

• Friedrich Nietzsche- exalted the will, the Friedrich Nietzsche- exalted the will, the assertion of the will provides life with assertion of the will provides life with meaning.meaning.

• Denounced Christianity- God is dead, man has Denounced Christianity- God is dead, man has killed him. Sets you free from christian killed him. Sets you free from christian morality. morality.

ÜbermenschÜbermensch “Super Man”- man free of “Super Man”- man free of rules and restrictions, desired to live a rules and restrictions, desired to live a more intense level of experience than more intense level of experience than regular humans, possessed a passion to regular humans, possessed a passion to dominatedominate

Must be free from the ordinary thinking Must be free from the ordinary thinking of the masses, rejects democracy, social of the masses, rejects democracy, social reform and universal suffrage.reform and universal suffrage.

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque

• Irrationalism• Existentialism• Soren Kierkegaard- existence proceeds essence• Internal Religious Struggles-

– modernists vs. fundamentalists- modernists within the church wanted to try to interpret the bible in the light of the new developments, whereas traditionalists wanted nothing to do with the new modern idea and forces.

13.13. Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism

Dreyfus AffairDreyfus Affair

Theodore Herzl Theodore Herzl Der Der JudenstaatJudenstaat [ [The Jewish StateThe Jewish State], ], 18961896

• ““Father of Modern Zionism”Father of Modern Zionism”

14.14. Women’s MovementWomen’s Movement

Emmeline PankhurstEmmeline Pankhurst

15.15. The “New” ImperialismThe “New” Imperialism

16.16. Militarism Militarism glorification of war glorification of war

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle ÉpoqueÉpoque