As its industries grew stronger, the country moved from its centuriesold existence as an agrarian nation into an industrial, urbanized society. While other European nations eventually had their own revolutions in industry, England was the first to become fully industrialized. It therefore held an advantage over Europe and the rest of the world. With industrialization came the growth of the middle class in England. Yet the class system that had long divided English society remained firmly in place during the Industrial Revolution, and the nation's population remained segregated.
Colonialism. Due to technological advances of the era, it became easier for the British to successfully dominate larger areas of land. During Joseph Merrick's lifetime alone, England colonized India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zanzibar. The Victorians believed that their political and religious efforts in these colonies brought civilization to the "savages" in these areas, and thus served as a charitable service to mankind.
For the most part, Victorians sought to reshape other peoples in their own image. Victorian missionaries in colonial areas tried to convert the natives not only to Christianity but to British ways and customs. Meanwhile, the colonized areas added to England's wealth and power, emerging as economic markets for English products and suppliers of raw materials.
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