1. La Belle Epoque [1871-1914]: “The Beautiful Era”
Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

2. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Materialism + Consumerism
Higher standard of living
Development “zones”
Inner Zone  GB, Fr, Ger, Belgium, No. Italy, W Austria
Outer Zone  Ire., Iberian Pen., most of Italy, Europe east of Ger.
Underdeveloped Zone  Afro-Asia

3. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Increased European Population
Jobs? Opportunity? Food?
Growth of Cities & Urban Life
Migration from Europe
 60 million left Europe
Went to  US, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Australia/N. Zeal.
“Second” Industrial Revolution
Steel + Electricity + Chemicals
Internal combustion & diesel engines.
Trains, autos, planes, submarines, subways, steel steamships

4. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
“Second” Industrial Revolution Britain  “The World’s Industrial Workshop”
Corporations  limited liability of investments.
Mass production > Std. of Living rise.
Free Trade [Promoted by GB & USA]
World Markets [Global Economy, Part II]
Advance of Democracy: Extension of the vote to the working class… first ♂, then ♀
Creating “welfare state” = Govt role?

5. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Appeal of Socialism… Why?
By 1880s, most socialist parties were Marxist based [esp. Ger. & Fr.]
Not very successful in England… Why?
Faith in Science Alone
Scientist coined by Wm. Whewell (GB)
Science at the core of industrialization -“New Wonders” of daily life, inventions.
Charles Darwin: Origin of Species [1859]
Evolution >“Survival of the Fittest”

6. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]
“Social Darwinism”  Herbert Spencer… true?
TH Huxley disagrees, says ethical development contradicts this, nature only ‘evolves’
Eugenics: Racial Hierarchy
Newtonian Science turned on its head
Einstein  “Theory of Relativity”  nature & energy were separate & distinct.
Max Planck  Quantum Physics

7. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Faith in Science Alone [con’t.]
Professionalization of “new” “Social Sciences…Anthropology, Archeology…
Psychology: Explain behavior / mind
Ivan Pavlov  conditioned responses
Sigmund Freud  Psychoanalysis
The Interpretation of Dreams [1900]
Id (impulse) v. Ego (conscious mind controls behavior) v.Superego (learned morality)

8. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
New Trends in Philosophy
Agnosticism: No proof of God, but maybe
Nihilism: Nothing knowable, no morals, progress depends on rejecting today’s values, morality is individually decided
Friedrich Nietzsche
Übermensch  “Super Man”
Existentialism: Sören Kierkegaard
Existence = Experience is unexplainable
Freedom of choice, individual responsibility & consequences
Religious Struggles: Modern vs.Fundamental

9. Characteristics of La Belle Epoch
Anti-Semitism: Overt + Covert
Dreyfus Affair
Theodore Herzl > Der Judenstaat [The Jewish State], 1896
“Father of Modern Zionism”
Women’s Movement: Politics + Society
Emmeline Pankhurst + Josephine Butler
The “New” Imperialism: Conquest of Africa
Militarism  glorification of war
Industry R&D >> Weaponry >> Conflict?