The rise of the middle class as the dominant political and cultural force, defining the values of the "Belle Époque." 4. Imperialism and the Road to Total War
A pivotal moment where revolutionary fervor swept across the continent, signaling the definitive end of the absolute monarchical system and the rise of democratic aspirations. 2. The Rise of Nation-States Istoria Europei vol. IV
The slow decline of the Ottoman Empire (the "Sick Man of Europe") and the internal tensions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire as ethnic minorities sought self-determination. 3. The Industrial Revolution and Social Change The rise of the middle class as the