Ep 31. Industrial Rivalry - 1870 - 1914

Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World, season 1 episode 31, titled "Industrial Rivalry - 1870 - 1914", explores the period of intense industrial competition that defined the early twentieth century in the Western world. The episode focuses on the rivalries between the major industrial powers of the time, including the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and France.

The episode begins by exploring the economic developments that led to this period of intense industrial rivalry. The Industrial Revolution had transformed the Western world and led to unprecedented levels of economic growth and prosperity. However, this growth was not evenly distributed, and certain countries found themselves at a disadvantage. For example, Great Britain, which had been the dominant industrial power in the world for much of the nineteenth century, saw its position threatened by the rise of other industrial powers, particularly Germany and the United States.

The episode then delves into the specific rivalries between these countries and their respective industries. For example, it explores the competition between Germany and Great Britain in the field of shipping and maritime commerce. Germany's construction of a powerful navy in the early twentieth century was seen by many Britons as a direct threat to their country's naval supremacy.

Likewise, the episode explores the rivalry between the United States and Germany in the field of steel production. Germany had rapidly developed an advanced steel industry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the United States was determined to catch up. This led to a series of technological advancements and innovations in the field of steel production that helped fuel the rapid growth of American industry in the early twentieth century.

Throughout the episode, viewers are introduced to a wide array of historical figures and events that shaped this period of industrial rivalry. For example, the episode explores the life and work of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-born steel magnate whose innovations in the field of steel production helped transform the United States into an industrial powerhouse. It also covers the role of Germany's Otto von Bismarck in promoting the country's industrial development and the rise of European imperialism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Ultimately, the episode argues that the intense industrial rivalries of the early twentieth century helped fuel the economic growth and progress that defined the Western world in the twentieth century. However, it also notes that these rivalries contributed to the tensions and conflicts that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

Overall, "Industrial Rivalry - 1870 - 1914" provides a detailed and insightful look at one of the defining periods of modern Western history. It offers viewers a clear understanding of the economic, political, and technological factors that shaped the period and the key individuals and events that drove progress and conflict.