1. Sambourne House, London. The Victorian Age ( 1830 – 1901) Ms I. Marinaro

2. The Victorian Age A tremendously exciting period: new literay schools new artistic styles new political movements new religious movements Ms I. Marinaro

3. political reform... a time of… prosperity imperial expansion “prudishness” …but also of… “repression” Ms I. Marinaro

4. An extremely complex age also called The Second English Renaissance Ms I. Marinaro

5. It is also the beginning of MODERN TIMES Ms I. Marinaro

6. It is also: (a)the height of the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (b) the apex of the BRITISH EMPIRE The Victorian Era: the years from 1837 to 1901 when Queen Victoria reigned Ms I. Marinaro

7. An “age of progress” an age of scientific and mechanical developments first aeroplanes first steel bridges telegraph line huge ships Ms I. Marinaro

8. The Victorian Era period of dramatic changes London: from 2 to 6.5 million people Britain’s first railway first Reform Parliament 1832 1st Reform Bill England = world power from land property to modern urban economy Ms I. Marinaro

9. Economic and social difficulties industrialization “time of troubles” 1830s & 1840s desperate poverty rioting unemployment Ms I. Marinaro

10. 1848 - 1870 Despite the problems, a period of OPTIMISM Great Exhibition in Hyde Park,1851 - celebration of modern industry and science - expansion of the Empire (also a reason of moral responsibility and missionary commitment) Ms I. Marinaro

11. 1870 - 1901 the Empire faces military campaigns various Socialist movements (also influenced by Marx and Engels) art & literature: melancholy and aestheticism beginning of Modernism Ms I. Marinaro

12. “ The Woman Question” women could not: (a) vote (b) hold public offices rights obtained by the end of Queen Victoria’s reign: (a)custody of minors (b)the possibility to obtain degrees at twelve universities but also appalling conditions of work in factories and prostitution Ms I. Marinaro

13. The Victorian novel A very important social phenomenon often published in serial form in periodicals and widely read described the period and people’s aspirations Most famous novelists: W. Scott, the Brontë sisters, A. Trollope, O. Wilde, G. Eliot, C. Dickens Ms I. Marinaro

14. Main events : 1832.1st Reform Act 1837. Victoria is queen 1842. Mine Act 1845. Irish Famine 1846. Repeal of Corn Laws 1851. Great Exhibition 1854. Crimean War 1857. The Indian Mutiny 1857. Divorce Legislation 1859. Origin of Species 1877. Victoria is Empress of India 1882. Military occupation of Egypt for the Suez Canal 1884. The Fabian Society 1870-91. Elementary Education Act Ms I. Marinaro

15. Negative aspects of the Victorian Age: pollution => factory activity lack of hygienic conditions: (a) overcrowded houses (b) poverty (c) no direct water supply slum housing children exploitation children exploitation (mines; chimney sweepers; errand boys) the woman’s question: no vote until 1918 prostitution: “The Great Social Evil” the theme of “fallen women” Ms I. Marinaro

16. literature, music, art, technology, science morality focused on public duty & responsibility imperialism as a state’s duty to improve people’s lives from private philanthropy to government’s responsibility legacy of the Victorian era revolutionary thinkers, e.g.: Darwin, Marx, Mill. Ms I. Marinaro

17. The British Empire under Victoria Australia, Burma, Canada, Egypt, Guiana, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa… Ms I. Marinaro

18. by the mid-1800s Great Britain: the largest world’s exporter and importer of goods the wealthiest country in the world Ms I. Marinaro

19. The British felt they had to bring their values, costumes, religion and law to the “savage” throughout the world “ The White man’s burden” Ms I. Marinaro