- published: 23 Oct 2012
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The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque (French pronunciation: [bɛlepɔk]; French for "Beautiful Era") was a period in French history that is conventionally dated as starting in 1890 and ending when World War I began in 1914. Occurring during the era of the Third French Republic, it was a period characterized by optimism, peace at home and in Europe, new technology and scientific discoveries. The peace and prosperity in Paris allowed the arts to flourish, and many masterpieces of literature, music, theater, and visual art gained recognition. The Belle Époque was named, in retrospect, when it began to be considered a "golden age" in contrast to the horrors of World War I.
In the newly rich United States, emerging from the Panic of 1873, the comparable epoch was dubbed the Gilded Age. In the United Kingdom, the Belle Époque overlapped with the late Victorian era and the Edwardian era, and in Germany, the Belle Époque coincided with the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The French public's nostalgia for the Belle Epoque period was based largely on the peace and prosperity connected with it in retrospect. Two devastating world wars and their aftermath made the Belle Epoque appear to be a time of joie de vivre (joy of living) in contrast to 20th century hardships. In contrast to the early 20th century, the Belle Epoque was a time of relative peace and prosperity. It was also a period of stability that France enjoyed after the tumult of the early years of the French Third Republic, beginning with France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, the Paris Commune, and the fall of General Georges Ernest Boulanger. The defeat of Boulanger, and the celebrations tied to the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, launched an era of optimism and affluence. French imperialism was in its prime. It was a cultural center of global influence, and its educational, scientific and medical institutions were at the leading edge of Europe.
O-raet-do-ngan okkae-rul nurodon
Mugo-un chimul naer-yonuhgo
Shiwonhan kiji-gae-rul pyonun saram-chorom
Nonun naye sarang naer-yo-nuhgo
Hulgabunhan ma-umuro
Parame hansum shwigo naragagetji
Paran jo hanul-bichi muldurun chae-ro
Puro-onun parame hunnallyo
Bom-hae-ssal mochumyo chumchunun hayan kkonhimchorom
Nonun kurohke nara-gan kot kata
Cho-yong-hi narunun ajirang-iyi mulkyon-chorom
Nonun kurohke nara-gan got kata
Noyegenun naer-yo-nuhgo shipdon
Nae-ga opso chongmal pyon-anhanji
Nam-gyo-jin nae-ge mian-hajin a-nhun-ji
Paran jo hanulbichi mul durun chae-ro
Puro-onun kabyo-un parame
Saljak hundullinun orin yondo bit namun-imkwa
Naduri kanun kippun yonin-durye
Buduro-un usumsori kadukhan onu ohu
Chamshi uriye saeng-gage chamgimyo
Pum hae-ssal majumyo chumchunun hayan kkonhimchorom
Nonun kurohke nara-gan got kata
Parami mandunun ohu han-ga-unde soso