Edwardian era
Early twentieth century
The Edwardian era is the period of British history during the reign of King Edward VII, from 1901 to 1910, though the term often extends to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
It evokes a time of elegance, social stratification, and imperial confidence—the last gasp of aristocratic Britain before the upheavals of the twentieth century: an Edwardian country house, Edwardian fashions.
Female voting-rights activists
- women's suffrageVoting rights for females
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- labor movementOrganized effort for worker rights
- socialismCommunal economic control
feminism · trade unions · enfranchisement · social reform · welfare · philanthropy · education reform · progressive
A flourishing cultural period
- pre-warBefore a conflict
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- TitanicIll-fated 1912 vessel
- Boer WarAnglo-Dutch colonial conflict
federation · fin de siècle · Downton Abbey · historical · empire · monarchy · colonialism · aristocracy
Societal ranking by birth
- servantsHired household workers
- upstairs-downstairsClass division in households
- debutantesWomen debuting socially
- high societyThe social elite
gentlemen · ladies · etiquette · calling cards · garden parties · season · chaperones · finishing school
Refined, graceful quality
- refinementElegance of manner
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
- ornateElaborately decorated
- gildedOverlaid with gold leaf
grand · sumptuous · lavish · tailcoats · corsets · parasols · Art Nouveau · country estates
suffragettes
Female voting-rights activists
- women's suffrageVoting rights for females
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- labor movementOrganized effort for worker rights
socialism · feminism · trade unions · enfranchisement · social reform · welfare · philanthropy · education reform · progressive · liberalism
belle époque
A flourishing cultural period
- pre-warBefore a conflict
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- TitanicIll-fated 1912 vessel
Boer War · federation · fin de siècle · Downton Abbey · historical · empire · monarchy · colonialism · aristocracy · gentry
class system
Societal ranking by birth
- servantsHired household workers
- upstairs-downstairsClass division in households
- debutantesWomen debuting socially
high society · gentlemen · ladies · etiquette · calling cards · garden parties · season · chaperones · finishing school · governess
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
- refinementElegance of manner
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
- ornateElaborately decorated
gilded · grand · sumptuous · lavish · tailcoats · corsets · parasols · Art Nouveau · country estates · conservatories
Edwardian eramodern era
Current historical period
21st century · digital age · medieval period · Middle Ages · Dark Ages
Edwardian eraRoaring Twenties
Prosperous 1920s era
Jazz Age · Swinging Sixties · punk era · Blitz spirit · Industrial Revolution
Edwardian eraegalitarian society
Group with equal status
classless society · meritocracy · welfare state · democratic socialism · modern Britain