E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 36. Men and Machine concluded

Kent Kently

19 Jan 201702:30

Summary

TLDRIn chapter 36 of 'A Little History of the World' by Gombrich, we delve into the rise of Karl Marx and his Communist Manifesto, published in 1848. Despite Marx's expectations, the real struggle was between the nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie. The wealthy industrialists sought freedom from the nobility and state, advocating for a world where capable individuals could operate without constraints. This led to revolutions in France and Paris in 1830 and 1848, respectively, challenging the old order. The chapter concludes with the fall of the old regime, the rise of factories, and the advent of railways, marking a significant shift in society.

Takeaways

📚 The discussion revolves around Chapter 36 of 'A Little History of the World' by E.H. Gombrich.
🏭 Karl Marx's ideas about the proletariat and his publication of the Communist Manifesto in 1848 are highlighted.
🔄 The actual situation after the publication of the Communist Manifesto was different from what Marx had anticipated.
👑 The power dynamics of the time were dominated by noblemen rather than factory owners.
🌐 The noblemen sought a regulated state where everyone had a fixed place, similar to the past.
👨‍🌾 In countries like Austria, peasants were still bound to the land and the nobility, akin to serfs of the Middle Ages.
🏛️ Artisans and new factories were still under strict regulations from the Guilds and the state.
💼 Wealthy citizens, who benefited from the Industrial Revolution, wanted freedom from nobility and state control.
🗽 In 1830, the French citizens overthrew Louis the 18th, and in 1848, a revolution in Paris spread to other countries, aiming to seize state power.
👔 Fashion trends of the time included black trousers and stiff white collars, reflecting societal changes.
🚂 Factories proliferated, and railways facilitated the transportation of goods across countries, symbolizing the rapid industrialization.

Q & A

Who is the author of 'A Little History of the World'?
-The author of 'A Little History of the World' is E.H. Gombrich.
What significant work did Karl Marx publish in 1848?
-Karl Marx published 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848.
What was the situation like when Marx published 'The Communist Manifesto'?
-When Marx published 'The Communist Manifesto', the situation was very different from what he had expected, with few factory owners having real power and the nobility still holding significant authority.
What did the noblemen of Austria want in terms of state governance?
-The noblemen of Austria wanted a secure, orderly, and regulated state where each person had their appointed place, similar to the past.
How were the peasants in Austria affected by the regulations of the time?
-Peasants in Austria were still tied to inherited estates and were hardly less bound to the landowners than the serfs of the Middle Ages.
What was the attitude of the wealthy citizens towards the nobility and the state?
-Wealthy citizens were no longer willing to take orders from the nobility or the state; they wanted to act as they saw fit and believed that this would be best for everyone.
What event in 1830 led to the citizens of France rising up?
-In 1830, the citizens of France rose up and threw out Louis the 18th's successors.
What happened in Paris in 1848 that influenced other countries?
-In 1848, there was a new revolution in Paris which spread to many other countries where citizens tried to obtain all the power of the state.
What changes occurred in Vienna as a result of the revolution?
-In Vienna, better Nick was dismissed, Emperor Ferdinand was forced to abdicate, and the old regime was definitely over.
How did the fashion and industrial landscape change after the revolution?
-After the revolution, men wore black trousers like drain pipes and stiff white collars with complicated neckties. Factories were allowed to spring up everywhere, and railways transported goods in ever-increasing quantities from one country to another.

Outlines

00:00

🏭 The Industrial Revolution and Social Change

This paragraph discusses the impact of the Industrial Revolution on society, focusing on the rise of the proletariat and the changing power dynamics. Karl Marx's ideas, as outlined in the Communist Manifesto, are highlighted, along with the unexpected outcomes of his predictions. The text contrasts the expected empowerment of factory owners with the continued dominance of the nobility and the pushback from wealthy citizens who sought more freedom from traditional regulations. The narrative includes historical events such as the revolutions in France in 1830 and 1848, which led to significant societal changes, including the dismissal of better Nick and the abdication of Emperor Ferdinand. The paragraph concludes with a description of the new industrial landscape, characterized by the proliferation of factories and the advent of railways, symbolizing a shift towards a more interconnected global economy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Karl Marx

Karl Marx was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, and socialist revolutionary. He is best known for his ideas about social and economic activity, and his critique of capitalism. In the video, Marx is discussed in the context of his influence on the proletariat and his publication of the Communist Manifesto in 1848, which was a call to action for the working class.

💡Proletariat

The proletariat refers to the working class in a capitalist society, particularly those who must sell their labor to survive and do not own the means of production. In the video, the proletariat is central to Marx's ideas, as he believed they were the key to societal change and the establishment of a classless society.

💡Communist Manifesto

The Communist Manifesto is a political pamphlet by Marx and Friedrich Engels, published in 1848. It laid out the program of the Communist League, a working-class revolutionary party. The video mentions the Manifesto as Marx's 'great appeal to the workers,' highlighting its role in rallying the proletariat against the capitalist class.

💡Factory Owners

Factory owners are individuals or entities that own and operate factories, which are large production facilities. In the video, factory owners are depicted as a new class of rich citizens who sought more power and autonomy, challenging the traditional authority of the nobility and the state.

💡Noblemen

Noblemen, or the aristocracy, were members of the highest social class in the feudal system, typically holding titles like duke, earl, or baron. In the video, they are portrayed as adversaries of the rich citizens and factory owners, seeking to maintain a regulated state where each class had a fixed place.

💡Guilds

Guilds were associations of artisans or merchants who often held considerable power in the governance of their trade. In the video, guilds are mentioned as part of the historical context where artisans were governed by strict regulations, which contrasts with the desires of the new factory owners for fewer restrictions.

💡1830 French Revolution

The 1830 French Revolution, also known as the July Revolution, was a brief but significant uprising that resulted in the overthrow of Charles X and the rise of Louis-Philippe as king. The video references this event as part of a series of revolutions that would lead to changes in the social and political landscape of Europe.

💡1848 Revolutions

The 1848 Revolutions were a series of widespread, but not coordinated, revolts throughout Europe. The video mentions the revolution in Paris in 1848, which was part of this wave of uprisings that sought to challenge the old order and establish more democratic and liberal societies.

💡Vienna

Vienna is the capital of Austria and was the center of the Habsburg Empire. In the video, Vienna is mentioned as a place where the old regime was definitively over, symbolizing the broader changes occurring across Europe as a result of the revolutions.

💡Emperor Ferdinand

Emperor Ferdinand I was the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary during the period discussed in the video. His forced abdication, as mentioned, signifies the end of an era and the beginning of a new political order in Austria.

💡Black Trousers and Stiff White Collars

These terms refer to the fashion and clothing of the time, which the video uses to illustrate the societal changes occurring. The mention of 'black trousers like drain pipes' and 'stiff white collars with complicated neckties' serves to contrast the old and new, suggesting a shift in societal norms and perhaps a move towards a more egalitarian society.

Highlights

Karl Marx's ideas for the proletariat were published in the Communist Manifesto in 1848.

The situation in 1848 was different from what Marx had expected, and it continued to evolve.

Few factory owners had real power; most was in the hands of noblemen.

Noblemen were the adversaries of rich citizens and factory owners, seeking a secure and regulated state.

Peasants in Austria were still tied to inherited estates and bound to landowners.

Artisans were governed by strict and ancient regulations dating back to the Guilds.

Wealthy citizens, due to new machines and factories, were unwilling to take orders from nobility or the state.

Citizens believed that allowing able people free rein would lead to a better world.

In 1830, the French citizens overthrew Louis the 18th's successors.

The 1848 revolution in Paris spread to other countries, with citizens seeking state power.

In Vienna, better Nick was dismissed, and Emperor Ferdinand was forced to abdicate.

The old regime was over, and men started wearing black trousers and stiff white collars.

Factories were allowed to spring up everywhere, and railways transported goods in increasing quantities.

The chapter ends with a call to check out the video playlist for more books read by the narrator.