Age of Progress and European Nationalism

An Age of Nationalism and Realism (1850-1871) 

 Map of Europe in 1850

 "If" by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

I say, easier said than done...

Realism in Art

The painting below exemplifies the way in which realists thought. They believed that the world should be viewed realistically. They had a desire to depict the everyday life of ordinary people and  had an interest in the natural environment. However, note that Romanticism was not dead.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Courbet" by Gustave Courbet

The European Times 

Special Edition of 1856

EUROPE, 1856 - After a lengthy two years, The Crimean War has come to an end. Starting with the demands to protect Christian shrines present in Palestine (France's job already), Russia launched itself into a war with the Turks in 1853. A year later, the Turks were joined by their allies: Great Britain and France, who also declared war on Russia. This war earned a 2-star rating from Rogerick and Ebertwich due to no evidence of careful planning and a poor execution. However, the war now comes to an end with the surrender of Russia and the Treaty of Paris. Shamed by their poor performances in the match of the decade, Russia and Great Britain could not be reached for comment as the two countries have withdrawn from current European affairs on the continent. Austria was not asked to comment, as nobody likes Austria anymore after this war.

 Come visit our brand new country - Germany!

After a lengthy processes (and a little bit of war), the German Empire is now open for business! Originally intended as a sole unification of Austria and Prussia, you can see that many more European states willingly (and not-so-willingly) decided to join us! Come enjoy the now-strongest empire in Europe courtesy of your friends, Otto von Bismarck and William I. Hope to see you soon!

 The European Times

Obituaries

 Queen Alexandrina Victoria

(May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901)

 We have just received word of the death of Queen Victoria, age 81. The queen has passed away after suffering from excessive drowsiness and poor vision. She holds the current record for longest reign of any female ruler, clocking in at 63 years and 7 months. Her life was full of a prosperous rule in Great Britain, with the implementation of a constitutional monarchy and the expansion of voting rights amongst British peoples. She also promoted the arts during this period which will surely be known as the Victorian Era. She leaves behind...well, practically all of Europe as she was known as the "grandmother of Europe" due to her many relations amongst European royalty.