Machine Age
Period of early 20th century history of rapid technological advancement
The Machine Age is an era that includes the early-to-mid 20th century, sometimes also including the late 19th century. An approximate dating would be about 1880 to 1945. Considered to be at its peak in the time between the first and second world wars, the Machine Age overlaps with the late part of the Second Industrial Revolution (which ended around 1914 at the start of World War I) and continues beyond it until 1 945 at the end of World War II. The 1940s saw the beginning of the Atomic Age, where modern physics saw new applications such as the atomic bomb, the first computers, and the transistor. The Digital Revolution ended the intellectual model of the machine age founded in the mechanical and heralding a new more complex model of high technology. The digital era has been called the Second Machine Age, with its increased focus on machines that do mental tasks.
01Developments
Artifacts of the Machine Age include:
- Reciprocating steam engine replaced by gas turbines, internal combustion engines and electric motors
- Electrification based on large hydroelectric and thermal electric power production plants and distribution systems
- Mass production of high-volume goods on moving assembly lines, particularly of the automobile
- Gigantic production machinery, especially for producing and working metal, such as steel rolling mills, bridge component fabrication, and car body presses
- Powerful earthmoving equipment
- Steel-framed buildings of great height (skyscrapers)
- Radio and phonograph technology
- High-speed printing presses, enabling the production of low-cost newspapers and mass-market magazines
- Low cost appliances for the mass market that employ fractional power electric motors, such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines
- Fast and comfortable long-distance travel by railways, cars, and aircraft
- Development and employment of modern war machines such as tanks, aircraft, submarines and the modern battleship
- Streamline designs in cars and trains, influenced by aircraft design
03Environmental influence
- Exploitation of natural resources with little concern for the ecological consequences; a continuation of 19th century practices but at a larger scale.
- Release of synthetic dyes, artificial flavorings, and toxic materials into the consumption stream without testing for adverse health effects.
- Rise of petroleum as a strategic resource
04International relations
- Conflicts between nations regarding access to energy sources (particularly oil) and material resources (particularly iron and various metals with which it is alloyed) required to ensure national self-sufficiency. Such conflicts were contributory to two devastating world wars.
- Climax of New Imperialism and beginning of decolonization
05Arts and architecture
The Machine Age is considered to have influenced:
- Dystopian films including Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times and Fritz Lang's Metropolis
- Streamline Moderne appliance design and architecture
- Bauhaus style
- Steampunk , Subgenre of science fiction
- Dieselpunk , Subgenre of science fiction
- Modern art
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Machine Age”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Duchamp - Nude Descending a Staircase.jpg by Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968), PD-US
- UP Big Boy 4014.jpg by Morven, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland Ustron - museum.jpg by Merlin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- UP 9000 2.jpg by Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- BonnevilleDam.jpg by Eric Guinther (en:User:Marshman), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Yamato battleship under fitting-out works.jpg by Unknown author, Public domain
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02Social influence