The Age of Capital (1848-1875)

Author: (English) Eric Hobsbawm, translated by Zhang Xiaohua et al.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-04-01
Features: The 19th century was an era dominated by liberal bourgeois society, an era of transforming the world. Born amidst revolutionary turmoil, it flourished with capital accumulation and reached its zenith with imperial expansion, only to suddenly collapse. The Age of Capital was a grand play starring the bourgeoisie, the protagonists of progress. With new technologies like railways and steamships, the stage was extended from Europe to the world. Dressed modestly, the main characters performed with confidence and composure in this era of unprecedented grandeur, devoid of dramatic ups and downs. After a brief and fervent prelude of revolution, the triumphant hymn of capitalism echoed globally. In an era of economic prosperity, the victors who controlled capital and technology dominated the traditionalists who were defeated. Numerous farmers left the land that had become commodities and flocked to cities and industries, slowly forging their worker consciousness in the vast environment. Respected by society, the bourgeoisie, in their solid family strongholds, created the immortal legend of liberalism. Evolutionism led science forward, while realism stifled artistic creativity. In 1875, an unprecedented prolonged depression crept silently into the Age of Empire.