Brussels is the capital of Belgium and has been Belgium’s capital since its independence from the Netherlands in 1830. Throughout European history, Brussels has maintained a key place in European political affairs, as the seat of Habsburg power during the Reformation, the birthplace of the Belgian revolution in 1830, a strategic point in the failed Schlieffen plan of 1914, and as the current de facto capital of the European Union. Brussels has also influenced key artistic movements, boasting Renaissance era artists and becoming renowned for its lace during the Industrial Revolution. The key to Brussels’ power is its location; situated in between France and Germany, Brussels’ central location in Western Europe allows it continued authority …show more content…
Brussels’ influence in art and handicraft is evident in the image of a Brussels lace stole from the third quarter of the 18th century. Brussels was known for Brussels lace, lace that combined new machine-made netting with traditional hand sewn appliqué, uniting industrialization with continued old artistic traditions. The context of Brussels lace is the early Industrial Revolution when mass produced goods and factories increased in prevalence. Brussels lace’s context is significant because it highlights Brussels’ adaptability as well as its artistic influence, as Brussels’ lace became extremely popular throughout Europe and inspired later lace styles. The context of Brussels lace highlights both continuity and change in Brussels. In the new industrial period, Brussels continued to exert influence in Europe as its lace was mass produced and widely spread, utilizing new industrialization to its advantage. The context of Brussels lace also illustrates a change in Brussels’ mode of influence; in the new industrial world, modern cities gained political power, while cities that were once politically powerful declined. Brussels fit this trend as, seen in lace’s popularity, its influence shifted from political to artistic. Thus, Brussels was a key player in artistic handicraft during the early Industrial Revolution as its …show more content…
The catalyst for the revolution was the song “L’amour Sacré de la Patrie” from the French opera La Muette de Portici, and it promoted fighting to defend one’s nation from outside influence by other nations. The context of “L’amour Sacré de la Patrie” was the revolutionary 1830s, a decade when several nations, including France and Russia, experienced revolutions that challenged traditional authority. The context of “L’amour Sacré de la Patrie” is significant because it explains why the song sparked a revolution in Brussels and why that revolution spread throughout Belgium: The instability in Europe made Brussels receptive to calls for an end to foreign government and led the people of Brussels to fight for freedom from the Netherlands. The context of “L’amour Sacré de la Patrie” illustrates continuity and change in Brussels. It demonstrates continuity through Brussels’ continued influence in Europe as a political power, a position enabled by the revolutionary spirit of the 1830s, a spirit exemplified in the song “L’amour Sacré de la Patrie”. It also highlights change, as, because of the birth of revolutionary nationalism during this period, Brussels again exerted political influence, but its influence was only over Belgium, not over a larger portion of Europe. “L’Amour Sacré de la Patrie” began a revolution in Belgium alone,
To summarize the book into a few paragraphs doesn't due it the justice it deserves. The beginning details of the French and Ind...
When one looks at France after Napoleon’s reign, it is clear that he had brought much longed for order and stability. He had also established institutions that embodied the main principles of the revolution. However, it is also evident that many of his policies directly contradict those same principles. Was Napoleon betraying the same revolution that gave him power, or was he merely a pragmatist, who recognised that to consolidate the achievements of the revolution he needed to sacrifice some of those principles? Firstly, in order to determine whether Bonaparte betrayed the revolution, it is necessary to define what one means by “the revolution”.
the French Revolution. Hunt, Lynn & Censer, Jack. University Park, Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania State University Press (2001)
Throughout history, women are often included as a side note to occurrences of their ages, most often seen as small and unimportant among patriarchs. Despite this shortcoming in historical documentations, some events do look more closely through the eyes of women. The French Revolution of the eighteenth century is one of these events. This investigation will be exploring the French Revolution, and asking: to what extent did women make an impact? In Thomas Streissguth’s book, Women of the French Revolution, he highlights several women of France, while also analyzing their contribution to the course of the revolution. With his book as a major source, the investigation will explore the topics of women’s riots and salons, individual women, and women as a whole.
Thomas, Daniel H. The Guarantee of Belgian Independence and Neutrality in European Diplomacy, 1830’s-1930’s. Rhode Island: D.H. Thomas Publishing, 1983.
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country.
“Europe cannot conceive of life without Kings and nobles; and we cannot conceive of it with them. Europe is lavishing her blood to preserve her chains, whereas we are lavishing ours to destroy them”(Maximilien Robespierre). For centuries upon centuries, the monarchal system had dominated European life. The very nature of this method of rule incited rebellious feelings, as a definite imbalance of power was present. Understandably, people under this system had risen against authority. The glorious nation of France was no exception. The eighteenth century brought about a great deal of economic and social turmoil. By the end of this one hundred year period, rebellion had been talked about by many citizens for quite some time. However, no definitive action was taken until one man stepped to the forefront; Maximilien Robespierre. Born in Arras, France about thirty years prior to the French Revolution, Robespierre was an immensely intelligent man as is seen from his ability to read and write fluently from the age of eight (the Force of 10). Robespierre rose from fairly humble origins to become a provincial lawyer, advancing further to become a representative in the Estates General, and eventually ascending to the leader of the French Revolution itself. For its sake he sent thousands to the guillotine, overthrew a monarchy, declared a new national religion, and invigorated the will of a nation. “No individual of the French Revolutionary era, with the exception of Napolean Bonaparte, has excited more passion in his time than the…dedicated provincial lawyer, Maximilien Robespierre”(Maximilien 1). During this era, Robespierre led France’s world inspiring cry for the liberation of mankind and petrified the world with its relentle...
New York: Barnes & Noble, 1969. Print. The. Kreis, Steven. A. A. "Lecture 12: The French Revolution - Moderate Stage, 1789-1792.
Brussels is the national capital of Belgium, Brussels is located in the middle of Belgium. The city was established in the 13th century and is a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy which means that each province has the ability to make their own laws or rules for their province. The people of Belgium have ultimate power, and the king has to follow the same rules the people do. These are the similarities and differences between Belgium's government and the U.S.A.’s.
The French people were quick to blame the government for all the misfortune they possess, yet ignored the potential evil or crisis the social body was heading towards within themselves. Because of the rapid sequence of horrific events in the beginning of the French revolution, it prevented the subversive principles to be spread passes the frontiers of France, and the wars of conquest which succeeded them gave to the public mind a direction little favorable to revolutionary principles (2). French men have disgraced the religion by ‘attacking with a steady and systematic animosity, and all it is there that the weapon of ridicule has been used with the most ease and success (2). Metternich was not in support of the French
Nardo, Don. A. The French Revolution. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. Print.
In the early 1800s, France was the sole fashion capital of the world; everyone who was anyone looked towards Paris for inspiration (DeJean, 35). French fashion authority was not disputed until the late twentieth century when Italy emerged as a major fashion hub (DeJean, 80). During the nineteenth century, mass produced clothing was beginning to be marketed and the appearance of department stores was on the rise (Stearns, 211). High fashion looks were being adapted and sold into “midlevel stores” so that the greater public could have what was once only available to the social elite (DeJean, 38). People were obsessed with expensive fashions; wealthy parents were advised not the let their children run around in expensive clothing. People would wait for children dressed in expensive clothing to walk by and then they would kidnap them and steal their clothes to sell for money (DeJean, 39). Accessories were another obsession of France‘s fashion; they felt no outfit was complete without something like jewelry or a shrug to finish off the look and make it all around polished (DeJean, 61). As designers put lines together, marketing began to become important to fashion in the nineteenth century; fashion plates came into use as a way to show off fashion l...
In a period leading up to the eventual Independence from Belgium in 1960, several political parties were formed. The populous argued for independence from Belgium due to many decades of brutality and corruption under Belgian colonization. There were many protests and riots fighti...
The period of 18th and 19th century is marked by the greatest transformations, reformations, revolutions and many other critical events that ever took place in human history. The credit is given to all these revolutions for enlightenment of mankind. The two most important revolutions were the French revolution and the industrial revolution. One can feel that both of these revolutions mutually reinforced each other and later became the back bone of all other revolutions. On the other hand, both revolutions had totally different impacts and consequences at various economical, political and social realms.
The Industrial Revolution was a time in western cultures when the production of goods became urbanized. Spreading from Great Britain, industrialization had become widespread in Western Europe by the mid-1800’s. France, in particular, progressed in the industrialization process from about 1830 to 1850. Industrialization created an enormous increase in th...