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The Victorian Paradox: Great Progress Amidst Great Inequality
The Victorian era is undoubtedly one of the most important periods in British history, and according to some, also one of the best. The rapid development of breakthrough technologies, progressive industrialization and urbanization, improving living standards of the middle class — during the reign of Queen Victoria of Hanover, the empire flourished, of that there is no doubt. However, there is no denying that during her reign, clear social divisions also arose, double standards of morality prevailed, and exploitation was commonplace. What were the characteristics of the Victorian era? The answer to this question can be found below.
As early as the Gregorian era, England began to become the world’s greatest imperial and economic power. A period of economic crisis was followed by a time of prosperity and reaping huge profits from overseas colonies. The reign of the Hanoverian kings prepared a good ground for the further development of the empire.
Admittedly, after the end of the Napoleonic wars, there was some economic depression. However, Victoria of Hanover took the throne of a prosperous empire, which under her rule gained real momentum.
