La Belle Epoque [1871-1914]: “The Beautiful Era”

La Belle Epoque

[1871-1914]:

“The Beautiful Era”

La Belle Epoque

[1871-1914]:

“The Beautiful Era”

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle EpochEpoch1.1. Materialism and hedonism(?)Materialism and hedonism(?)

Higher standard of living Higher standard of living luxuryluxury

Development “zones”Development “zones”

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

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

•Underdeveloped ZoneUnderdeveloped Zone Afro- Afro-AsiaAsia

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884, by Georges Seurat

2.2. Increased European PopulationIncreased European Population

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

Characteristics of La Belle Characteristics of La Belle EpochEpoch

Paris Street, Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte


44. Migration from Europe. Migration from Europe– 1850-1940 1850-1940 60 million left 60 million left

EuropeEurope– Went to Went to US, Argentina, Brazil, US, Argentina, Brazil,

Canada, Canada, Australia/N. Zeal.Australia/N. Zeal.

55. “Second” Industrial Revolution. “Second” Industrial Revolution– Steam Steam electricity electricity– Internal combustion & diesel Internal combustion & diesel

engines.engines.– Cars, planes, submarines.Cars, planes, submarines.

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

Mass production.Mass production.

Increased consumerismIncreased consumerism

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

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

8.8. Advance of DemocracyAdvance of Democracy

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

Creating a “welfare state” Creating a “welfare state” PrussiaPrussia


9.9. The Appeal of SocialismThe Appeal of Socialism

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

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

10.10. Faith in Science AloneFaith in Science Alone

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

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

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin

• Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species [1859] [1859]

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


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

““Social Darwinism” Social Darwinism” Herbert Herbert SpenserSpenser

EugenicsEugenics

Newtonian Science turned on its Newtonian Science turned on its headhead

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

•Max Planck Max Planck Quantum Physics Quantum Physics


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

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

• PsychologyPsychology

Ivan Pavlov Ivan Pavlov conditioned conditioned responsesresponses

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud psychoanalysis psychoanalysis

o The Interpretation of The Interpretation of DreamsDreams [1900] [1900]

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

o Challenges EnlightenmentChallenges Enlightenment



Oscar Wilde’s tale of Freudian hedonism?

11.11. New Trends in PhilosophyNew Trends in Philosophy

AgnosticismAgnosticism

NihilismNihilism

•Friedrich Nietzsche –”God is Friedrich Nietzsche –”God is Dead”Dead”

ÜbermenschÜbermensch “Super Man” “Super Man”

Existentialism – man defines his Existentialism – man defines his realityreality

•Sören Kierkegaard Sören Kierkegaard existence existence proceeds essenceproceeds essence

12.12. Internal Religious StrugglesInternal Religious Struggles

modernists vs. fundamentalistsmodernists vs. fundamentalists


13.13. Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism

Dreyfus AffairDreyfus Affair

Theodore Herzl Theodore Herzl Der Der JudenstaatJudenstaat [[The Jewish The Jewish StateState], 1896], 1896

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



1414. Women’s Movement. Women’s Movement– Emmeline PankhurstEmmeline Pankhurst

15.15.The “New” ImperialismThe “New” Imperialism

16. Militarism 16. Militarism glorification glorification of warof war

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La Belle Epoque [1871-1914]: “The Beautiful Era”