Creating the Twentieth Century

The period from 1867 to 1914 was a time of great progress. The synergy of fuels, science, and technical innovation spawned an exciting age. Dynamite, the telephone, photographic film, and light bulbs were only the beginning. Then came electricity-generating plants, electric motors, steam turbines, the gramophone, cars, aluminum production, air-filled tires, and prestressed concrete. And that was just the 1880s! Soon followed airplanes, tractors, radio signals and plastics, neon lights, and assembly line production. This book is a systematic interdisciplinary account of these developments and their effects on people's lives.