Author Description
The nineteenth century was a time of massive growth for Britain. In 1800 it was overwhelmingly rural, agrarian, multilingual, and almost half-Celtic. A century later it was largely urban and English. The effects of the Industrial Revolution caused cities to swell enormously. London, for example, grew from about 1 million people to over 6 million. Abroad, the British Empire was reaching its apex, while at home the world came to marvel at the Great Exhibition of 1851 with its crowning achievement--the Crystal Palace. Historians Christopher Harvie and Colin Matthew present a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the social, economic, and political events that marked the era on which many believed the sun would never set.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
How did the rapid transformation of nineteenth-century Britain from a rural, agrarian society into an urban, industrial global power redefine the nation's identity and geopolitical standing? Historians Christopher Harvie and Colin Matthew synthesize a vast array of social, economic, and political data to document the seismic shifts occurring between 1800 and 1900. By examining the demographic explosion of cities like London and the expansion of the British Empire, the authors provide a structured framework for understanding the era's rapid modernization. The text serves as a comprehensive overview of the structural changes that defined the Victorian age and its immediate predecessors.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Demographic analysis of rural-to-urban migration patterns.
- Economic impact of the Industrial Revolution on British infrastructure.
- Political and social evolution of the British Empire at its peak.
- Cultural milestones such as the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Scope Limits
- Does not provide an exhaustive biography of individual political figures.
- Focuses primarily on domestic and imperial structural changes rather than detailed military history.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a reliable and accessible synthesis of nineteenth-century British history. Readers frequently note that the prose is clear and well-organized, making it a useful resource for students and those seeking a foundational understanding of the period.
Page Count:
172
Publication Date:
2000-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192853988
ISBN-13:
9780192853981
History
19th Century
Social History
Economic History
Political History
British History