'The Great Longing for Railways' – How the Periphery Became Connected with the Centres of Industrialisation

When railways began to revolutionize the transport systems in the middle of the 19th century many people were optimistic and full of hope about the positive effects the new technology would have on society: Trade, cultural and scientific exchange would flourish. The people would learn to know and understand each other better. Resentment, envy and hate would vanish. These and other visions were expressed in numerous memoranda which trumpeted for the construction of railways all over Europe.

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http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/termine/id=17439