The 19th century was characterized by vast social upheaval. Slavery was abolished in much of Europe and the Americas. The First Industrial Revolution, though it began in the late 18th century, expanding beyond its British homeland for the first time during this century, particularly remaking the economies and societies of the Low Countries, the Rhineland, Northern Italy, and the Northeastern United States.
A few decades later, the Second Industrial Revolution led to ever more massive urbanization and much higher levels of productivity, profit, and prosperity, a pattern that continued into the 20th century.
The century also saw the collapse of the large Spanish and Mughal Empires. This paved the way for the growing influence of the British, French, German, Russian, Austro-Hungarian, Italian, and Japanese Empires along with the United States. The British boasted unchallenged global dominance after 1815.
Take a look at these amazing photos to see what Europe looked like in the 19th century.
Belgium. New Court House in Brussels, 1860-1884
Belgium. Park in Brussels, 1860-1884
Castle on the Rhine, 1860-1884
England. Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, 1860-1884
England. Ecosse, Wness, from Belle Isle, 1860-1884
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