Euro100 Week 9 Lecture: Industrialisation and Social Change

Introduction

• Focus on industrialisation, economic and social changes.
• Part of 'dual revolutions' along with political changes.
• Trace origins from mid-18th to 19th century.

Consumer Culture

• Emergence in 18th-19th centuries.
• Growth of 'middling class' engaging in consumer culture.
• Referred to as 'consumer revolution'.
• Tied to Enlightenment culture and new commodities (tobacco, coffee, etc.).
• Development of fashion as a commodity.
• Growth of marketing and advertising.

Industrial Revolution

• Main focus on technological, economic, and social changes.
• Definition: Shift to non-human power sources (coal, steam) for increased productivity.
• Urbanisation and centralisation of economic tasks.
• Shift from cottage industries to factories.

Economic Impact

• Population growth and increased demand for goods.
• Britain's lead in industrialisation due to coal resources.
• Infrastructure development (canals, roads) for coal transport.
• Innovations such as the steam engine by James Watt.

Social Impact

• Rise of urban industrial working class.
• Economic inequality and decline in artisan skills.
• Poor working conditions, exploitation of women and children.
• Division and decline in prosperity for many workers.

Class and Gender

• Emergence of distinct class divisions (working class, middle class, bourgeoisie).
• Karl Marx's influence on class analysis.
• Gender roles more defined; 'separate spheres' for men and women, especially in middle class.

Cultural Responses

• Cities as centers of both prosperity and poor conditions.
• Romantic era: Emphasis on emotion, nature, reaction against industrialisation.
• Literature: Social realism by authors like Charles Dickens.
• Impressionism in art as a response to changing world perceptions.

Technological and Cultural Change

• Growth of railways: New form of travel, cultural shift in perception of time and space.
• Urban monuments such as the Eiffel Tower and Crystal Palace as symbols of industrial power.

Conclusion

• Industrial revolution as a term needs careful consideration.
• Significant economic, social, and cultural transformations.
• Set the stage for modern societal patterns and challenges.

Next Week

• Discussion on late 19th-century imperialism and World War I.