Victorian Era
Definition
The Victorian era refers to Queen Victoria's reign over Britain (1837-1901). This period saw significant social, economic and cultural changes in Britain including rapid industrialization and expansion of the British Empire.
Analogy
Imagine if one school principal stayed in charge from your first day of kindergarten until your high school graduation - that’s how long Queen Victoria reigned! During this time there were lots of changes just like you grow up and change throughout your school years.
Related terms
Queen Victoria: She was queen of the United Kingdom from June 20th, 1837 until her death on January 22nd, 1901. Her reign marked a period of significant growth for Britain both domestically and internationally.
Industrialization: This is the process by which an economy transforms from primarily agrarian to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Individual manual labor is often replaced by mechanized mass production.
British Empire: At its height, it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. It included territories in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
"Victorian Era" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Practice Questions (10)
- What could be a limitation when relying solely on British newspapers from the Victorian era for historical research?
- What limitation would governmental records from the Victorian era potentially have when studying political dissent in Britain?
- Which invention revolutionized communication during the Victorian era?
- How did industrialization influence literature during the Victorian era in England?
- Why were social critiques by authors such as Charles Dickens significant for initiating changes in society during the Victorian Era?
- Why could photography from the Victorian era be limited as a source for understanding everyday life in that period?
- Whose reign is often associated with the Victorian era?
- Which social reform took place during the Victorian era?
- How would a queer theory perspective critique societal norms established during Victorian Era?
- If parliamentary reforms hadn't been instituted during the early Victorian era, how could it potentially affect British society?
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