Roman - Age of Empire 9-13

The final chapters of Hobsbawm's book start with a discussion of art and science. The era of 1875 to 1914 was truly revolutionary in both disciplines. More people became involved in producing art such as music, writing, and even the beginnings of motion pictures, all of which took on a new, avant-garde taste. Science was turned upside down as scientists began to question the mathematical and physical paradigms that they had always based their research on. Scientists like Max Planck and Einstein completely revolutionized science creating both excitement, despair, and suspicion. With the scientific movements people began to value reason more. A significant proportion of people left or deeply questioned their religion in a sort of individual thought revolution. As the early 1900's progressed, tensions began to mount on the European stage. Countries began to arm heavily to secure themselves as global powers, and suspicion of one another mounted up as well. For the past century the reasons for the first world war have been researched to exhaustion. Historians still question how an era of prosperity and economic growth came to such a violent, paranoid end.

What interests me most is science during this time period. Classical schools of thought which had been taught for generations were all of sudden shrouded in doubt. As more money went to scientific research more was discovered and postulated. Interestingly, scientists began to pursue theory over fact. The way they saw it, the facts they had held so dear were not guaranteed as facts, so wild theory was somewhat acceptable. Real progress was born out of this quest for theory. Chemistry advanced as did physics. It must have really been a time of uncertainty, to the point of despair even, when Einstein's convincing theories turned classical physics upside down. I wonder what professors of the time were thinking. Were they excited, anxious, or full of despair and uncertainty?

I think more discussion is warranted on why the youth was so willing to go to war in 1914. I think Hobsbawm has a point when he mentions that the period of the bourgeoisie was and indecisive, almost boring one in need of "a decision." I think it was this period somewhat similar to the disillusionment of the Lost Generation in the 1920's combined with the newness of capitalism/democracy that led to the war. Sadly, when people run out of problems, they seem to make them up for themselves to deal with.

-Roman