Eighteen hundred — century of steam and revolutions

The 1800s were the era of steam and railways. The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain, changed the world: factories, the steam locomotive, and telegraph appeared. Urbanization and capitalism changed the way of life of billions.

In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte, having won the Battle of Marengo, consolidated his power in France. For the next 15 years he would define the history of Europe. His Civil Code became the foundation of the legal systems of dozens of countries.

In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the first chemical current source — the 'voltaic pile'. This discovery launched the age of electricity. The unit of electrical voltage, the volt, is named in his honor.