# An urban society

One of the most evident effects of the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th century was an increasing level of urbanization.

In a global process of population growth, the cities got bigger and changed their face with new avenues, great beautiful buildings, parks and squares, and incorporating the urban improvements that the new technology provided.

These cities were the reflection of the bourgeoisie´s prosperity, showing its growth in the purchasing power and its new ways of leisure, but with a clear segregation of working class in neglected neighborhoods, most of them as a result of a mass immigration.

Cities like London, Barcelona, Chicago, New York and Paris became leading business and cultural centres.

# Click on the photos to get information

- Casa Milá, populary known as La Pedrera, a modernist Antoni Gaudi´s building in Barcelona built between 1902 and 1912, commisioned by businessman Pere Milá and his wife Roser Segimon. It´s an example of architecture innovations at this time.
- Despite the competition of other new powers, London was still a leading international financial centre
- Construction of the skyscraper Flatiron Building, New York 1902, designed by Daniel Burnham with a steel skeleton.
- Built to serve as gate of the Exposition Universalle (World´s Fair) held in Paris in 1889, by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. A tribute to new technology, 324 metres tall, was the tallest structure at this time.

# Now it's your turn

As you have read, the Eiffel Tower was built for the World´s Fair (Exposition Universalle) in Paris, 1889. Read about these Exhibitions and then decide if the next statements are true or false.

# Question 1

Universal Exhibitions were a showcase for the industrial productions and the technological innovations.

True False

# Feedback

True

They showed the achievements of nations which were proud of their progress.

# Question 2

The Eiffel Tower is the only construction of those exhibitions that still remains

True False

# Feedback

False

There are other examples like the Grand and Petit Palais in Paris or the Natural History Museum in London.

# Question 3

They were mostly organised to commemorate a special event.

True False

# Feedback

True

For instance, 1893 Exhibition in Chicago celebrated Christopher Colombus´ arrival in America.

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