1. Nineteenth-Century Progress
Section 4
Nineteenth-Century Progress
Breakthroughs in science and technology transform daily life and entertainment.
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2. Nineteenth-Century Progress
Inventions Make Life Easier
Edison the Inventor
• Thomas Edison patents over 1,000 inventions in
research laboratory – most famous for the light bulb
Bell and Marconi Revolutionize Communication
• In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invents telephone
• In 1895, Italian Guglielmo Marconi builds first radio
Ford Sparks the Automobile Industry
• In 1880s, Germans invent first automobile
• Henry Ford lowers cost with assembly line—one
task per worker
The Wright Brothers Fly
• In 1903, Wright brothers develop first working airplane
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3. New Ideas in Medicine The Germ Theory of Disease
SECTION 4
The Germ Theory of Disease
• Louis Pasteur discovers existence of bacteria
while observing fermentation
• He and others quickly discover that bacteria
cause disease
• British surgeon Joseph Lister links bacteria to
surgical problems
• Sterilizing instruments reduces deaths from
infection
• Medical researchers develop vaccines; cities
improve sanitation
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4. Darwin Challenges Traditional Beliefs
New Ideas in Science
Darwin Challenges Traditional Beliefs
• Charles Darwin—English scientist develops
theory of evolution
• In 1880s most people believe in“special creation” by God
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
• Darwin’s idea of natural selection says competition elevates fittest
• Fittest then breed, their offspring share their
advantages
• Gradually, over generations, species change; new
species evolve
• Theory of evolution—species change slowly
through natural selection
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5. New Ideas in Science Mendel and Genetics
• Austrian monk Gregor Mendel discovers patterns to inherited traits
• Mendel’s work begins the science of genetics
Advances in Chemistry and Physics
• In 1803, John Dalton theorizes all matter is made of atoms
• In 1869, Dmitri Mendeleev creates periodic table of the elements
• Radioactivity—type of energy discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie
• Ernest Rutherford says atoms have a nucleus
surrounded by electrons
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6. Social Sciences Explore Behavior
New Ideas in Social Science
• Sciences of archaeology, sociology, anthropology begin in 1800s
• Psychology—study of human mind, behavior
• Ivan Pavlov believes human actions actually
unconscious reactions
• Sigmund Freud studies unconscious, develops psychoanalysis
• Freud, Pavlov shake Enlightenment’s faith in reason
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7. The Rise of Mass Culture
From Leisure Culture to Mass Culture
• Mass culture—art, music, writing, entertainment for
large audience
Changes Produce Mass Culture
• Leisure activities (movies, music) now available to
working class
Music Halls, Vaudeville, and Movies
• Traveling acts feature music, juggling, dancing
• In 1880s, people develop early projections of
moving images
• By the early 1900s, filmmakers produce the first
feature films
Sports Entertain Millions
• Spectator sports draw huge crowds; modern
Olympics in Greece, 1896
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