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Some tend to minimize the historical importance of the 23 relatively quiet years following the chaos of 1848. Industrialization had already taken hold in Britain, Germany, and, to a lesser extent, France. Furthermore, few alive in Europe at the time could remember what life was like under Napoleon Bonaparte. In many ways, this era of history is a bridge—from x to y. Historians have come to varying conclusions as to what x and y are. In this guide, we will examine each possibility so that you may come to your own answer to the following question: What, if anything, changed in Europe from 1848 to 1871?
Let’s say, as some historians do, that x represents the “early modern” period and y represents the “modern” period. Now, this makes it necessary for us to define two things: “early modern,” and “modern.” Traditionally, “early modern” European history is seen in a much broader scope—namely, the period immediately after the Renaissance, the true bridge from pre-modern to modern history. Within "modern history," traditionally defined, we can make two subdivisions: the "early" stage of modern history, ending around 1815, and the “late” stage of modern history, beginning around 1871. Therefore, the period between 1815-1871 serves as a bridge that connects modern history.
Consider these before and after contrasts: Before, the “concert of Europe” maintained peace; after, Europe was on the road to World War I. Before, the Russian army dominated the continent; after, Russia was humiliated and weakened by European and Asian enemies. Before, central Europe was a disjointed region of independent principalities; after, the newly unified nation-states of Germany and Italy upset the balance of power in Europe forever. Before, national interests were bound up with the interests of the ruling aristocracy; after, the notion of workers’ rights and social democracy dragged European politics forever leftward. Before, Europe occupied only a small percentage of the world’s land; after, the imperial centers of Europe commanded nearly all the world outside the Western Hemisphere. All this is to say that, before 1815, Europe was vastly different than after 1871. We will focus on Europe after the 1848, year of revolutions, spanning from 1848 to 1871.
