Remaking the Rhythms of Life: German Communities in the Age of the Nation-State (Oxford Studies in Modern European History)

## Abstract Across Europe, the late nineteenth century marked a period of rapid economic growth, increased migration, cultural and technical innovation, religious conflict, and inter-state competition. In Germany, these developments were further accentuated by the creation of the imperial state in 1870/71 and the conflicting hopes and expectations it provoked within the larger public. Attempting to make sense of this turbulent period of German history, historians have frequently reverted to terms such as industrialization, urbanization, nation-formation, modernity, or modernization. Using the prism of comparative urban history, this book highlights the limitations of these conceptual abstractions and reveals the artificiality of the separation of local and national approaches to the past. It shows how men and women drew on their creative energies to instigate change at various levels. Focusing on conflicts over the local economy, elementary schools, the theatre and citizenship, and looking at nationalist and religious processions, Remaking the Rhythms of Life examines how urban residents sought to regain a sense of place in a changing world: less by resisting the novel than by reconfiguring their environments in ways that reflected their sensibilities and aspirations; less by lamenting the decline of civic virtues than by creating surroundings that proved sufficiently meaningful to sustain lives. In their capacity as consumers or citizens, members of religious or economic associations, people embarked on a multitude of journeys. As they did, larger themes such as religion, nationalism and the state became intertwined with everyday affairs and concerns. "Across Europe the late nineteenth century marked a period of rapid economic change, increased migration, religious conflict, and inter-state competition. In Germany, these developments were further accentuated by the creation of the imperial state in 1870-71 and the conflicting hopes and expectations it provoked. Attempting to make sense of this turbulent period of German history, historians have frequently reverted to terms such as industrialization, urbanization, nation-formation, modernity or modernization. Using the prism of comparative urban history, Oliver Zimmer highlights the limitations of these conceptual abstractions and challenges the separation of local and national approaches to the past. He shows how men and women drew on their creative energies to instigate change at various levels. Focusing on conflicts over the local economy, elementary schools, as well as on nationalist and religious processions, 'Remaking the rhythms of life' examines how urban residents sought to regain a sense of place in a changing world: less by resisting the novel than by reconfiguring their environments in ways that reflected their sensibilities and aspirations; less by lamenting the decline of civic virtues than by creating surroundings that proved sufficiently meaningful to sustain lives. In their capacity as consumers or citizens, members of religious or economic associations, people embarked on a multitude of journeys. As they did, larger phenomena such as religion, nationalism and the state became intertwined with their everyday affairs and concerns"--provided by publisher Across Europe the late nineteenth century marked a period of rapid economic change, increased migration, religious conflict, and interstate competition. In Germany these developments were further accentuated by the creation of the imperial state in 1870-71, and the conflicting hopes and expectations it provoked. Attempting to make sense of this turbulent period of German history, historians have frequently reverted to terms such as industrialization, urbanization, nation-formation, and modernity or modernization. Using the prism of comparative urban history, Oliver Zimmer highlights the limitations of these conceptual abstractions and challenges the separation of local and national approaches to the past. He shows how men and women drew on their creative energies to instigate change at various levels. Focusing on conflicts over the local economy and elementary schools, as well as on nationalist and religious processions, Remaking the Rhythms of Life examines how urban residents sought to regain a sense of place in a changing world-less by resisting the novel than by reconfiguring their environments in ways that reflected their sensibilities and aspirations; less by lamenting the decline of civic virtues than by creating surroundings that proved sufficiently meaningful to sustain lives. In their capacity as consumers, citizens, and members of religious or economic associations, people embarked on a multitude of journeys. As they did, larger phenomena such as religion, nationalism, and the state became intertwined with their everyday affairs and concerns. Book jacket Across Europe the late nineteenth century marked a period of rapid economic change, increased migration, religious conflict, and inter-state competition. In Germany, these developments were further accentuated by the creation of the imperial state in 1870-1871, and the conflicting hopes and expectations it provoked. Attempting to make sense of this turbulent period of German history, historians have frequently reverted to terms such as industrialization, urbanization, nation-formation, modernity or modernization. Using the prism of comparative urban history, Oliver Zimmer highlights the limitations of these conceptual abstractions and challenges the separation of local and national approaches to the past. He shows how men and women drew on their creative energies to instigate change at various levels. Focusing on conflicts over the local economy and elementary schools, as well as on nationalist and religious processions, Remaking the Rhythms of Life examines how urban residents sought to regain a sense of place in a changing world - less by resisting the novel than by reconfiguring their environments in ways that reflected their sensibilities and aspirations; less by lamenting the decline of civic virtues than by creating surroundings that proved sufficiently meaningful to sustain lives. In their capacity as consumers, citizens, and members of religious or economic associations, people embarked on a multitude of journeys. As they did, larger phenomena such as religion, nationalism, and the state became intertwined with their everyday affairs and concerns. Cover 1 Contents 12 List of Illustrations 13 Introduction 16 I: JOURNEYS 28 Prologue: Anything Goes 30 1. Remaking Urban Economies 35 2. Schools on the Move 82 II: PLACE-MAKERS 118 Prologue: Coming and Staying 120 3. Citizens and Residents 126 4. Remaking the Bürgergemeinde 149 III: RHYTHMS 184 Prologue: In and Out of Sync 186 5. Apostles of Progress 191 6. Sedan Day 232 7. Corpus Christi 269 Conclusion 308 Endnotes 322 Bibliography 383 Index 402 A 402 B 402 C 403 D 403 E 404 F 404 G 404 H 405 I 405 J 405 K 405 L 405 M 406 N 407 O 407 P 407 R 408 S 408 T 409 U 409 V 410 W 410 Z 410 The late nineteenth century marked a period of profound change in the German lands, characterized by rapid economic growth, increased migration, ideological conflict, and cultural innovation. Throwing new light on a series of hotly debated topics, Oliver Zimmer explores how people drew on their creative energies to find their place in the world. Content: I JOURNEYS II MAKING A PLACE III RHYTHMS OF LIFE