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19th century

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<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Antoine-Jean Gros/" class="wiki">Antoine-Jean Gros</a>, <i>Surrender of Madrid,</i> 1808. Napoleon enters Spain's capital during the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Peninsular War/" class="wiki">Peninsular War</a>, 1810
Antoine-Jean Gros, Surrender of Madrid, 1808. Napoleon enters Spain's capital during the Peninsular War, 1810

The 19th century (1801-1900) was a period in history marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Ottoman, Holy Roman and Mughal empires. This paved the way for the growing influence of the British Empire, the German Empire and the United States, spurring military conflicts but also advances in science and exploration.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the British Empire became the world's leading power, controlling one quarter of the world's population and one third of the land area. It enforced a Pax Britannica, encouraged trade, and battled rampant piracy. The 19th century was an era of invention and discovery, with significant developments in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, electricity, and metallurgy that lay the groundwork for the technological advances of the 20th century. The Industrial Revolution began in Europe. The Victorian era was notorious for the employment of young children in factories and mines.
Advances in medicine and the understanding of human anatomy and disease prevention took place in the 1800s, and were partly responsible for rapidly accelerating population growth in the western world. Europe's population doubled during the 19th century, from roughly 200 million to more than 400 million. The introduction of railroads provided the first major advancement in land transportation for centuries, changing the way people lived and obtained goods, and fueling major urbanization movements in countries across the globe. Numerous cities worldwide surpassed populations of a million or more during this century. London was transformed into the world's largest city and capital of the British Empire. Its population expanded from 1 million in 1800 to 6.7 million a century later. The last remaining undiscovered landmasses of Earth, including vast expanses of interior Africa and Asia, were discovered during this century, and with the exception of the extreme zones of the Arctic and Antarctic, accurate and detailed maps of the globe were available by the 1890s. Liberalism became the preeminent reform movement in Europe.
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Jean-Léon Gérôme/" class="wiki">Jean-Léon Gérôme</a>, <i>The Slave Market</i> c.1884
Jean-Léon Gérôme, The Slave Market c.1884
Slavery was greatly reduced around the world. Following a successful slave revolt in Haiti, Britain forced the Barbary pirates to halt their practice of kidnapping and enslaving Europeans, banned slavery throughout its domain, and charged its navy with ending the global slave trade. Britain abolished slavery in 1834, America's 13th Amendment following their Civil War abolished slavery there in 1865, and in Brazil slavery was abolished in 1888 (see Abolitionism). Similarly, serfdom was abolished in Russia.

The 19th century was remarkable in the widespread formation of new settlement foundations which were particularly prevalent across North America and Australasia, with a significant proportion of the two continents' largest cities being founded at some point in the century. In the 19th century approximately 70 million people left Europe.

The 1800s is also known as a century of astounding sporting creation and development, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Association Football, Rugby Union, American Football, Baseball, Basketball, and Volleyball were all developed during the 19th Century.

Eras

Events

Map of the world from 1897. The <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/British Empire/" class="wiki">British Empire</a> (marked in pink) was the superpower of the 19th century.
Map of the world from 1897. The British Empire (marked in pink) was the superpower of the 19th century.

1800–1809

  • 1804: Haiti gains independence from France and becomes the first black republic.
  • 1805: The Battle of Trafalgar eliminates the French and Spanish naval fleets and allows for British dominance of the seas, a major factor for the success of the British Empire later in the century.
  • 1808–09: Russia conquers Finland from Sweden in the Finnish War.

1810s

1816: <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Shaka/" class="wiki">Shaka</a> rises to power over the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Zulu/" class="wiki">Zulu</a> kingdom
1816: Shaka rises to power over the Zulu kingdom
  • 1815: The Congress of Vienna redraws the European map. The Concert of Europe attempts to preserve this settlement, but it fails to stem the tide of liberalism and nationalism that sweeps over the continent.

1820s

  • 1821: Peru declares its independence from Spain
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/The Great Exhibition/" class="wiki">The Great Exhibition</a> in London. The <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/United Kingdom/" class="wiki">United Kingdom</a> was the first country in the world to industrialise.
The Great Exhibition in London. The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to industrialise.
.

1830s

  • 1839–60: After two Opium Wars, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia gained many concessions from China resulting in the decline of the Qing Dynasty.

1840s

  • 1844: First publicly funded telegraph line in the world—between Baltimore and Washington—sends demonstration message on May 24, ushering in the age of the telegraph.

1850s

1860s

The first vessels sail through the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Suez Canal/" class="wiki">Suez Canal</a>
The first vessels sail through the Suez Canal
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Robert Koch/" class="wiki">Robert Koch</a> discovered the tuberculosis bacilli. In the 19th century, <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/tuberculosis/" class="wiki">tuberculosis</a> killed an estimated one-quarter of the adult population of Europe.
Robert Koch discovered the tuberculosis bacilli. In the 19th century, tuberculosis killed an estimated one-quarter of the adult population of Europe.
  • 1864–66: The Chincha Islands War was an attempt by Spain to regain its South American colonies.

1870s

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Alexander Graham Bell/" class="wiki">Alexander Graham Bell</a> speaking into prototype model of the telephone
Alexander Graham Bell speaking into prototype model of the telephone
  • 1871–1872: Famine in Persia is believed to have caused the death of 2 million.
  • 1874: The Société Anonyme Coopérative des Artistes Peintres, Sculpteurs, and Graveurs, better known today as the Impressionists organize and present their first public group exhibition at the Paris studio of the photographer Nadar.
  • 1875–1900: 26 million Indians perished in India due to famine.
  • 1876–1879: 13 million Chinese died of famine in northern China.
  • 1876–1914: The massive expansion in population, territory, industry and wealth in the United States is referred to as the Gilded Age.

1880s

  • 1882: The British invasion and the subsequent occupation of Egypt
  • 1885 : "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson is published.
  • 1888 (November): Jack The ripper is believed to have murdered his last victim.

1890s

  • 1898–1902: The One Thousand Days war in Colombia breaks out between the "Liberales" and "Conservadores", culminating with the loss of Panama in 1903.

Significant people

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Abraham Lincoln/" class="wiki">Abraham Lincoln</a> in 1863, 16th President of <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/The United States/" class="wiki">The United States</a>, presided during the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/American Civil War/" class="wiki">American Civil War</a>, assassinated in April 1865
Abraham Lincoln in 1863, 16th President of The United States, presided during the American Civil War, assassinated in April 1865
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/José Rizal/" class="wiki">José Rizal</a>, the National hero of the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Philippines/" class="wiki">Philippines</a>
José Rizal, the National hero of the Philippines
  • Elizabeth Kenny, Australian Nurse and found an Innovative Treatment of Polio
  • Napoleon I, First Consul and Emperor of the French

Show business and theatre

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Franz Boas/" class="wiki">Franz Boas</a> one of the pioneers of modern <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/anthropology/" class="wiki">anthropology</a>
Franz Boas one of the pioneers of modern anthropology
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Ellen Terry/" class="wiki">Ellen Terry</a>, c.1880
Ellen Terry, c.1880
  • Jenny Lind, opera singer called the Swedish Nightingale
  • Céleste Mogador, dancer

Athletics

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/John L Sullivan/" class="wiki">John L Sullivan</a> in his prime, c.1882.
John L Sullivan in his prime, c.1882.

Business

Famous and infamous personalities

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Jesse James/" class="wiki">Jesse</a> and <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Frank James/" class="wiki">Frank James</a>, 1872
Jesse and Frank James, 1872
Deputies <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Bat Masterson/" class="wiki">Bat Masterson</a> and <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Wyatt Earp/" class="wiki">Wyatt Earp</a> in <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Dodge City/" class="wiki">Dodge City</a>, 1876
Deputies Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp in Dodge City, 1876
thumb|[[Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill Cody, Montreal, QC, 1885]]
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Geronimo/" class="wiki">Geronimo</a>, 1887, prominent leader of the <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Chiricahua/" class="wiki">Chiricahua</a> <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Apache/" class="wiki">Apache</a>
Geronimo, 1887, prominent leader of the Chiricahua Apache
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Jean-Gaspard Deburau/" class="wiki">Baptiste Deburau</a> c. 1830s, as Pierrot.
Baptiste Deburau c. 1830s, as Pierrot.

Anthropology, archaeology, scholars

Journalists, missionaries, explorers

  • Sir John Kirk, explorer, physician, companion of David Livingston
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Thomas Nast/" class="wiki">Thomas Nast</a>, c. 1860–1875, photo by <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Mathew Brady/" class="wiki">Mathew Brady</a> or Levin Handy
Thomas Nast, c. 1860–1875, photo by Mathew Brady or Levin Handy

Photography

  • Nadar aka Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, portrait photographer

Visual artists, painters, sculptors

The Realism and Romanticism of the early 19th century gave way to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in the later half of the century, with Paris being the dominant art capital of the world. In the United States the Hudson River School was prominent. 19th century painters included:

Music

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres/" class="wiki">Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres</a>, <i><a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Niccolo Paganini/" class="wiki">Niccolo Paganini</a>,</i> (c.1819), charcoal drawing
Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, Niccolo Paganini, (c.1819), charcoal drawing
Sonata form matured during the Classical era to become the primary form of instrumental compositions throughout the 19th century. Much of the music from the nineteenth century was referred to as being in the Romantic style. Many great composers lived through this era such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Richard Wagner. The list includes:

Literature

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Henry David Thoreau/" class="wiki">Henry David Thoreau</a>, August 1861.
Henry David Thoreau, August 1861.
<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Emile Zola/" class="wiki">Emile Zola</a>, c.1900
Emile Zola, c.1900
On the literary front the new century opens with Romanticism, a movement that spread throughout Europe in reaction to 18th-century rationalism, and it develops more or less along the lines of the Industrial Revolution, with a design to react against the dramatic changes wrought on nature by the steam engine and the railway. William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are considered the initiators of the new school in England, while in the continent the German Sturm und Drang spreads its influence as far as Italy and Spain.

French arts had been hampered by the Napoleonic Wars but subsequently developed rapidly. Modernism began.

The Goncourts and Emile Zola in France and Giovanni Verga in Italy produce some of the finest naturalist novels. Italian naturalist novels are especially important in that they give a social map of the new unified Italy to a people that until then had been scarcely aware of its ethnic and cultural diversity. On February 21, 1848, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published the Communist Manifesto.

There was a huge literary output during the 19th century. Some of the most famous writers included the Russians Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekov and Fyodor Dostoevsky; the English Charles Dickens, John Keats, and Jane Austen; the Scottish Sir Walter Scott; the Irish Oscar Wilde; the Americans Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Twain; and the French Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac, Jules Verne and Charles Baudelaire. Some other important writers of note included:

Science

Mme. <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Marie Curie/" class="wiki">Marie Curie</a>, c.1898
Mme. Marie Curie, c.1898
The 19th century saw the birth of science as a profession; the term scientist was coined in 1833 by William Whewell. Among the most influential ideas of the 19th century were those of Charles Darwin, who in 1859 published the book The Origin of Species, which introduced the idea of evolution by natural selection. Louis Pasteur made the first vaccine against rabies, and also made many discoveries in the field of chemistry, including the asymmetry of crystals. Thomas Alva Edison gave the world a practical everyday lightbulb. Karl Weierstrass and other mathematicians also carried out the arithmetization of analysis. But the most important step in science at this time was the ideas formulated by Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell. Their work changed the face of physics and made possible for new technology to come about. Other important 19th century scientists included:

Philosophy and religion

<a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Otto Von Bismarck/" class="wiki">Otto Von Bismarck</a>, the Iron Chancellor
Otto Von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor
The last <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/shogun/" class="wiki">shogun</a> Tokugawa Yoshinobu in French military uniform
The last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu in French military uniform
One of the first photographs, produced in 1826 by <a href="http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Nicéphore Niépce/" class="wiki">Nicéphore Niépce</a>
One of the first photographs, produced in 1826 by Nicéphore Niépce
The 19th century was host to a variety of religious and philosophical thinkers, including:

Politics and the Military

  • Henry Clay, U.S. statesman, "The Great Compromiser"
  • Lajos Kossuth, Hungarian governor; leader of the war of independence

See also



 
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