`Western Civilization` assignments

Author Name

January 21 , 2008

Imperialism and Colonialism , 1870 - 1914

1 . What major innovations and developments spurred the Second Industrial Revolution

The Second Industrial Revolution was driven by very diverse technologies . The key innovations were however in steel , electricity and chemicals

Though steel had many advantages over iron as a construction material it was impossible to produce steel cheaply and in large quantities till the middle of the nineteenth century . But from the 1850s to the 1870s three different processes for refining and mass producing alloy steel were

invested . This revolutionized the metallurgical industry . The introduction of steel transformed Britain 's ship-building industry and enabled Britain to keep its lead in the industry . Germany too build a massive national and industrial structure based on steel

Technological developments made it possible for electricity to be made available for industrial , commercial and domestic use . The chemical battery was invented by the Italian Alessandro Volta in 1800 . Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction in 1831 leading to the development of the electromagnetic generator in 1866 . This was followed by the development of alternators and transformers , Alternating currents could be transmitted over long distances without any major transmission loss as opposed to direct current . Large power stations and production of hydroelectricity opened up mass production of electricity . Thomas Alva Edison built the incandescent-filament lamp in 1879 enabling whole areas to be electrified and lighted up . The developments in electricity changed the way people lived and worked . Electricity powered new modes of transportation . It introduced new techniques in metallurgical and chemical industries . Electrical engineering facilitated the Second Industrial Revolution to a great extent

Chemicals was transformed into a major industry by advances in the manufacture of alkali and organic compounds . Alkali and organic compounds revolutionized the production of , soap , textiles and fertilizers . Each of these products was vital for different spheres of activities . While major British manufacturers concentrated on the production of household items from these chemicals , Germany concentrated on the production of chemicals for industrial use

Developments in these three sectors in turn initiated the invention of liquid-fuel internal combustion engines . With the discovery of abundant oil in Russia , Borneo , Persia and Texas , mechanized production was made possible at any location . The world was thus poised for the Second Industrial Revolution

2 . In what ways did women , from about 1850 to the eve of World War I challenge the roles that society had traditionally assigned to them

The Industrial Revolution and the expanding civil society challenged Victorian views of the place of women in society . A large number of women were engaged in industries , others were social workers or clerks in government or corporate bureaucracies . More and more women were coming out of their restrictive role of the `angel of the house . This ushered in an era of education and legal reforms for women . In the 1860s Swiss universities and schools began to admit women . British women established their own colleges in Cambridge and Oxford . With education came the demand for women rights . Women...