1904.
The 20th century!
A new beginning! Hope is in the air, for this new age of discovery.
Only four years in and already we have automobiles flying off the assembly lines, airplanes in the sky, workers rights in the works, thoughts of revolution, scientific fields that were never thought possible and a treaty between
England and
France.
What?!? Those two are getting along?
This really is an age of progression and innovation!
And in
Europe two of the most influential minds that art and science have ever seen are budding, getting ready to flower thanks to the influence of this new century.
War! Even in this new time of innovation we cannot escape our violent roots. The Japanese attack the Russians, starting the Russo-Japanese war. It a battle that the Japanese ultimately win, marking the first major victory of an Asian power over a European power. Back at home the Russians aren't particularly happy about the war and the seeds of rebellion are planted. Soon because of the Russo-Japanese war, and other injustices, the Russian government will be overthrown and the rise of communism will begin. On another front the Philippine-American war rages on. Also know as the Philippine revolution, the war served as a statement on colonization and imperialism. And while America won, the old world imperialism was on the fall and would eventually end after World War Two. But it seems that there might still be hope for peace in this new century with the Entente Cordiale bringing the end to a nearly millennia long feud between the United Kingdom and France, creating an alliance that will last until modern day.
The world of science has changed so much in the past few years. Henry Ford's assembly line have turned motor vehicles from a fad of the rich, to an affordable means of conveyance. Soon everyone will be driving these vehicles. The Wright brothers have developed a workable airplane which will lead to mans dominance of the sky in just a few short years. The Nobel Prize made it's debut, which served as incentive for scientific innovation. Albert Einstein promised his first wife that he would win that prize one day and he would give her all of his prize money and all she had to do was divorce him. Max Planck discovered Quantum Physics a field that would dominate the scientific community for the next century, and it would also serve as a starting point for the above mentioned Albert Einstein. And lets not forget about the World Fair in Paris France where such things as talking movies were first showcased. Unfortunately all of these scientific innovations would be turned weapons of death and destruction. The cars will turn into tanks, the flying machines will turn into war-planes, and without quantum physics we wouldn't have nuclear weaponry.
A new age for art is upon us! Pablo Picasso has just recently moved to Paris, Georges Braque is establishing himself on the Parisian art scene, Movie theatres are popping up around the world. Galleries of Vincent Van Gogh are being showed around Paris, waiting to influence young minds. The Les Nabis is formed to bring together the influential artist of Paris to help support each other and bring their works into the public eye. Cubism and Surrealism are just around the corner.
Communication is becoming a greater and greater thing. With the telephone being developed late in the last century many thought that this was the end all be all of communication. But then we had the first radio transmissions to cross the Atlantic. First east to west then west to east. Instant communication from across the sea. This would eventually help the war effort in the World Wars to come. The Panama Canal is under way. This canal will connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean again making communication between the east and the west much simpler and much safer.
These were also important times in life of Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. As mentioned before Picasso moved to Paris in 1900 where he very literally became a starving artist. He would burn some of his painting in the winter just for a little heat. This was Picasso's "Blue" period, where his paintings focused heavily on human suffering. Albert Einstein on the other hand was going through what must have been a roller coaster of emotions. In 1902 his first child was born out of wedlock, and he was ecstatic about it. But a year later the child passed away from scarlet fever. This must have put a huge strain on his just newly formed marriage. In 1904 however his first son was born.
The beginning of the 20th century was a time of development in all fields. A time of discovery, a time of hope, and a time of new beginnings. Leaders, Artists, Rebels, Scientists, Inventor were all forged in these years.
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