(16—17th century)
Britain, facing the European continent across the sea, won a great victory in the naval battle with the Spanish Armada in 1588 and gradually entered the world stage. In the process from the Middle Ages to the modern society, a powerful monarchy has become a key link. Queen Elizabeth I's encouragement of ocean exploration and trade, enlightened attitude towards governing the country and compromise means to deal with social contradictions have brought this marginal island country an early glory.
However, the subsequent King Charles I, because of his belief in theocracy, violated the principle that kings in Britain must abide by the law as early as13rd century, and waged a civil war with Parliament for four years. After the defeat, Charles I was sentenced to death. Finally, through the glorious revolution, Britain gradually established a constitutional monarchy and completed the transformation to a modern society.
The relatively tolerant social environment has created conditions for Britain's economic development and prepared for the arrival of the industrial revolution. At the same time, it also made this island country step by step to the center of the world stage.
Industrial pioneer
(18 ——19th century)
With the British colonial expansion and the maturity of overseas markets, the demand for goods is increasing, and the production of manual workshops can no longer meet the needs. In order to encourage invention, Britain promulgated the earliest patent law in the world. All this has led to a scene in Britain where the whole people are keen on invention, production and trade.
When Newton discovered the law of the universe, the scientific spirit penetrated into British society; When Watt finally solved the core power problem with the universal steam engine, British industrialization began to spread out in an all-round way at an alarming speed. When Adam Smith pointed out the market law of free competition with The Wealth of Nations, the British began to promote free trade and expand the global market with the support of their strong industrial capabilities.
With the joint efforts of all parties, Britain became the first industrialized country in the world. During this period, Britain defeated its powerful neighbor France and became the largest colonial empire in the world.
From the middle and late19th century, the colonies became the burden of the British Empire, and the disadvantages of the free market economy gradually emerged, and Britain's development began to slow down, eventually losing its position as the world hegemon.
(Germany)
When European countries have established nation-States, a piece of land in the middle of the European continent has been in a state of disintegration. Germans with painful memories of division call for a unified country ideologically.
Through unremitting efforts, the road of political unification proposed by economist Friedrich List has been realized, the establishment of customs union has broken trade barriers, and the German economy has developed rapidly.
Bismarck, the bloody prime minister, tried to survive in the cracks of European powers. After making full preparations in diplomacy, it finally provoked a war against Denmark with the battle of three foreign countries (the first step was 1864).
The Danish Principality of Schleswig-Hollstein (mostly German residents) was incorporated into Germany.
The second step, 1866 provoked the war between Puao and Austria.
1On July 3, 866, Prussia won a decisive victory in the Battle of Sadova. According to the Prague Peace Treaty of August 1866, Austria withdrew from the German Federation, and Prussia annexed Holstein and several German federal vassals that stood in Austria during the war, unified northern and central Germany, and established the North German Federation under the leadership of Prussia.
The third step is the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
1September 870 17, instigated by Bismarck, France declared war on Germany. Charles Louis Napolé on Bonaparte boasted that it was just a "military walk to Berlin". But what he met was not Prussia in the past, but a relatively strong German nation that resolutely opposed separatism. 1On September 2, 870, the Germans won a decisive victory over France in the Battle of Sedang and captured Charles Louis Napolé on Bonaparte alive. At this point, the obstacles to Yugoslavia's reunification have been removed, and the task of German national war has been completed. Bismarck took his troops straight to Paris. 187 1 year 1 month 18 declared the unification of Germany and established the German Empire at Versailles. Bismarck also served as the Prime Minister of the German Empire. ) Germany was unified in 187 1 year. He followed the principle of balance among European powers and brought valuable space for the peaceful development of Germany.
Germany, which has always attached great importance to education and science and technology, quickly stood at the forefront of the second industrial revolution, surpassing Britain in more than 30 years and becoming the first economic power in Europe and the second in the world. However, Germany soon became the source of two world wars.
After World War II, Germany split again. Through deep reflection on the war, Germany finally achieved national reunification in a peaceful way.
(Russia)
From 65438 to 0697, Russian Tsar Peter I traveled and studied in European countries. After returning to China, he made social changes through tough measures. From dressing and eating, to scientific education, business activities and army building, Peter promoted the process of Russian civilization in a barbaric way, and even personally interrogated the prince who opposed reform. After defeating Sweden, Peter ordered the construction of St. Petersburg, a new capital facing Europe.
Catherine II, the queen who inherited Peter's reform, introduced European enlightenment, attached importance to education and tried to draft laws, but the reform could not touch serfdom. The queen's achievements can only be manifested in territorial expansion. /kloc-In the late 8th century, Russia became a big country spanning Europe, Asia and America, and became an important role in European affairs.
But serfdom made Russia lag behind Britain, France and other industrialized countries in economic and technological fields. In the repeated war-revolution-reform, this nation wandering between tradition and modernity has gradually formed its own thinking ability. Lev tolstoy and other Russian intellectuals hope to find their own way. It is under this kind of thinking that Russia has gradually created its own unique civilization.
Episode 9 New Road (Soviet Union)
19 17, the Soviet regime was born after the October Revolution. When Lenin explored the socialist road that no one had practiced, he adjusted the wartime production policy into a new economic policy in time according to the needs of the actual situation, which protected farmers and attracted foreign investors such as Hammer and Ford. The Soviet economy gradually recovered.
After Lenin's death, Stalin decided to speed up the process of industrialization, begin to implement the planned economy and give priority to the development of heavy industry in the international environment facing the threat of blockade and war. With the completion of the two five-year plans, the Soviet Union became an industrial power, which amazed the European and American countries in the economic crisis at that time. The glory of industrialization achievements covered up the disadvantages of the Soviet Union's highly centralized mandatory planned economy model. The coming World War II has tested this industrialization achievement. The strength of the Soviet Union's new industrial zone and the great sacrifice of the Soviet people enabled it to win the war and win its due position as a responsible big country.
As an unprecedented great practice, the Soviet Union has provided unprecedented experience and thinking for all mankind. Today, Russians are working hard for national rejuvenation, and the future of this nation is worth looking forward to.
Episode 10 New Country and New Dream (America)
(17th century-19th century)
1620, Mayflower brought 100 English Puritans to the North American continent. According to the Mayflower Convention signed before landing, the Puritans began their autonomous life in the New World. 100 years later, due to the forced increase of stamp duty by the British Empire, the colonial war of independence broke out. 1776, North America 13 colony announced the establishment of the United States of America, 1787 formulated a written constitution that had a far-reaching impact on the development of the United States and established a central government.
At this time, a large number of immigrants brought the most advanced technological achievements in Europe, and the United States, which took over the European baton, quickly completed the first industrial revolution.
The United States developed rapidly, but the unresolved issue of slavery at the Constitutional Convention eventually led to the civil war of 1860. President Lincoln led the North to win the war to safeguard national unity, and the central government gradually grew. Driven by the government, the westward movement, which lasted for more than a century, has achieved remarkable results.
Since then, Edison took the lead in bringing the United States into the electrical age, and the institutional guarantee of invention and innovation has become the constant driving force for the development of this country.
From 65438 to 0894, the United States became the largest economic power in the world. This young country stood at the forefront of the second industrial revolution.
1 1 Set Crisis New Deal (USA)
(Early 20th century-end of World War II)
Free competition ushered in the golden age of America from the end of 19 to the beginning of the 20th century. A large number of monopolistic large companies and consortia have appeared one after another, and the standard oil company of Rockefeller, the first trust group, is a typical representative. However, problems soon appeared: monopoly led to the closure of small and medium-sized enterprises and the loss of equal opportunities; The society is seriously polarized and the contradiction between labor and capital is intensified. Americans began to reflect on this economic and social development model. 190 1 President theodore roosevelt, who came to power, complied with progressivism and social requirements, protected the rights and interests of workers through antitrust and legislation, and started the first government intervention in the economy in American history.
Subsequently, the birth of Ford production line, the emergence of a number of new technologies and inventions in the electrical age, and the orders brought about by World War I further strengthened the American economy.
1929, the economic crisis affecting the global capitalist countries came, and the United States suffered heavy losses. President franklin roosevelt stepped up the government's efforts to manage the economy, and through a series of New Deal measures, the United States gradually stepped out of the predicament, thus creating a mixed economic model in which the visible hand (government) and the invisible hand (market) jointly acted on the economy.
World War II became a new turning point in American history, and the United States became the world's first power in politics, economy, science and technology and military affairs, and began to dominate the world.