Millennium 19th Century - the machine

The Rise of Steam Power and Its Impact on Society

The 19th Century: A Technological Revolution

• The 19th century marked a significant shift with the advent of machines, where Western technology began to dominate globally.

• Industrial power facilitated the invasion of America by white settlers, leading to the conquest of Plains Indians and altering global power dynamics.

• Factories transformed landscapes and lives, shifting from traditional power sources like muscle, wind, and water to mechanized energy.

The Emergence of Steam Power

• Britain harnessed steam as a new force from nature; the steam engine was celebrated as humanity's greatest invention.

• Early steam engines were massive, initially used for pumping water in mines before ambitions turned towards locomotion.

Milestones in Steam-Powered Transport

• Richard Trevithick successfully demonstrated steam-powered transport in 1804 but faced challenges due to heavy machinery.

• The first commercial steamer, Clermont, launched in 1807 in the U.S., marking a pivotal moment for passenger transport over water.

• By 1829, George Stevenson’s Rocket achieved speeds of 35 mph, captivating public imagination about travel without visible means of propulsion.

Cultural Reflections on Steam Technology

• The romance surrounding steam inspired artistic expressions; J.M.W. Turner depicted its essence through art while Felix Mendelssohn composed music reflecting his journeys on steamships.

Communication Innovations

• Charles Dickens vividly described early transatlantic crossings that hinted at technological advancements in communication via electricity.

• Isambard Kingdom Brunel became a celebrated engineer known for overcoming natural obstacles but at great human cost during construction projects.

Global Connectivity Through Railways and Travel

Transforming Travel Dynamics

• By 1850, railways and steamship routes connected continents rapidly; travel time decreased significantly from weeks to days.

Standardizing Time Across Continents

• This rapid travel necessitated synchronized clocks worldwide; Greenwich Observatory was established as the Zero Meridian for global timekeeping.

Birth of Modern Tourism

• Thomas Cook emerged as a pioneer travel agent in 1841 after organizing successful trips leveraging new railway systems.

• His business expanded rapidly, selling millions of tickets annually and shaping modern tourism practices across various social classes.

Scientific Advancements: Darwin's Theory

Challenging Traditional Beliefs

• In contrast to biblical creation narratives like Joseph Haydn's Oratorio "The Creation," Darwin introduced radical secular ideas regarding evolution during this period.

Discoveries During Exploration

• Darwin's theory evolved from his observations during a Royal Navy expedition; he noted species adapting uniquely to their environments across different islands.

Understanding Evolutionary Change

• Darwin began formulating ideas about species adaptation based on local conditions while exploring diverse ecosystems such as those found at Tierra del Fuego.

Darwin's Insights on Evolution and Human Nature

The Nature of Humanity

• Darwin reflects on humanity's primal state, describing man as a "foul naked snuffling thing," suggesting a view of humans as well-adapted apes rather than divine beings.

• His personal life was marked by tragedy, including the death of his daughter, leading him to question God's existence and perceive his family as victims of nature's harsh realities.

Development of Darwin's Theory

• Darwin’s theory evolved through observations in a local pigeon club where selective breeding demonstrated natural selection principles.

• He concluded that nature acts as the ultimate selector, modifying species over time, which he believed applied to all animals, including humans.

Publication and Reception

• After twenty years of anxiety about publishing his theory due to fear of religious backlash and professional criticism, Darwin was compelled to publish "On the Origin of Species" in 1859 when another naturalist reached similar conclusions.

• The book sold out immediately but shocked religious institutions by suggesting that human traits were not divinely bestowed but evolved characteristics.

Misinterpretation and Consequences

• Imperialists misappropriated Darwin’s ideas to justify colonialism, claiming superiority over other races and rationalizing their conquests with notions of manifest destiny.

• By the end of the century, Africa faced extensive colonial takeover driven by industrialized powers competing for dominance.

The Impact on Native American Cultures

Settler Colonization

• Early white settlers struggled with the harsh prairie environment while propagandizing it as a promised land despite its existing Native American cultures.

• The buffalo held immense spiritual significance for Native Americans; they utilized every part for survival while envisioning territorial expansion across diverse landscapes.

Conflict with White Settlers

• Indigenous tribes like the Sioux sought dominion over their lands but faced overwhelming force from industrialized settlers who justified their actions through beliefs in manifest destiny.

Industrial Warfare

• Immigrants contributed to westward expansion via railroads built by laborers; indigenous peoples resorted to guerrilla warfare against encroaching settlers supported by industrial-scale weapon production.

Buffalo Slaughter and Ecological Change

• The mass killing of buffalo became both sport for settlers and a tactic to undermine Native American economies; populations plummeted from millions to near extinction post-settlement.

Resistance and Major Battles

• Despite overwhelming odds, Native Americans achieved significant victories such as at Little Bighorn in 1876 against U.S. forces, marking both a defeat for the army and a triumph for indigenous resistance.

The Impact of Colonialism and Industrialization

The Brutal Reprisals and Cultural Displacement

• The victory of colonial powers led to severe reprisals against indigenous populations, who were forced onto smaller reservations.

• Indian warriors participated in Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows, ironically using the very transportation methods that contributed to their cultural destruction.

• Buffalo Bill played a significant role in creating a mythologized narrative of cowboys and Indians, which would later be propagated by the film industry.

China's Economic Landscape in the 19th Century

• At the start of the 19th century, China was confident in its economic superiority with a population of 400 million and a favorable trade balance with Western nations.

• A Chinese trader named Haokwa became immensely wealthy due to China's lucrative trade in silks, porcelain, and tea.

The Opium Trade Crisis

• Britain disrupted this balance by introducing opium from India into China, leading to widespread addiction and social decay.

• The opium crisis severely damaged Chinese society as it infiltrated various aspects of life unchecked.

Lin Zexu's Resistance Efforts

• In response to the opium crisis, Emperor Daoguang appointed Lin Zexu to halt the trade; he famously wrote an appeal to Queen Victoria highlighting the moral implications of opium sales.

• Lin's efforts included detaining British merchants and destroying large quantities of opium but ultimately faced resistance from British forces.

Consequences of War and Colonial Exploitation

• The First Opium War resulted in China's defeat; British Parliament member William Gladstone condemned it as unjust.

• Following defeat, China was forced into humiliating treaties that ceded territory like Hong Kong and imposed heavy reparations on them.

Industrial Revolution's Transformation in Britain

• By the 19th century, industrialization transformed workers' lives as weaving shifted from homes to factories controlled by machines.

• Workers became extensions of machines under oppressive conditions characterized by relentless noise and danger.

Social Struggles Amidst Industrial Growth

• Despite technological advancements, working conditions remained dire; children worked long hours under hazardous circumstances.

• Factories proliferated across cities, contributing significantly to pollution while also sparking movements for labor rights among exploited workers.

The Transformation of Steel and Its Impact on Industrialization

The Revolution in Steel Manufacturing

• The lynchpin of industrialization was the transformation of steel manufacture, moving away from traditional casting methods to Henry Bessemer's innovative process.

• This new method produced an unprecedented eruption of dazzling effects, culminating in the creation of high-quality steel.

Industrialization and Global Power Dynamics

• With the advent of tough, cheap steel, nations were empowered to construct railways and mass-produce weaponry, significantly altering global power dynamics.

• The first regions to industrialize gained dominance over others; heavy industry centralized power, exemplified by the northern states' victory over the agricultural south during the American Civil War.

Japan's Industrial Leap

• In Japan, industrial advancements in the southern region catalyzed national modernization; a businessman noted that industry was essential for achieving wealth.

• Newly industrialized Japan emerged as a formidable power in Asia, showcasing how industrialization could elevate a nation’s status.

Economic Prosperity Through Mass Production

• A cycle of prosperity emerged linking mass production with rising wages and increased demand for manufactured goods.

• Innovations like washing machines and sewing machines significantly improved daily life for many people.

Social Change Captured Through New Media

• The arrival of cameras documented rapid social changes alongside popular newspapers and advertising for mass-produced products.

• By 1898, motion pictures began to emerge with the Lumiere brothers filming significant moments like steam trains arriving at stations—symbolizing a century transformed by machinery.