Culture in the 19th century
EVOLUTION OF THE WORD “CULTURE” IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE
Throughout the ages, the word ‘culture’ has often had different meanings. For this assignment, I would like to focus on the evolution of the definition of ‘culture’ in 19th century Europe. I will give a brief description and timeline as outlined by (WIlliams, 1976), which gives us a glimpse into literature stemming from the selected time period.
Williams (1976), starts off by discussing the origins of the word ‘culture’ , which according to him, stem from the word L. Colere, which meant to “inhabit, cultivate, protect, honour with worship” p.87. Therefore up until the 18th century, the word ‘culture’ was mostly used to define agricultural practices, or husbandry. This was the case for most European countries, including France and England. It was only in the 18th century, where glimpses of the more modern meaning of ‘culture’ could be seen in the works of Milton, Austen etc. (WIlliams, 1976). The world culture had evolved to mean more than to cultivate (agriculturally), it had taken on a new more abstract form, that linked cultivation to the world civilisation, almost as if to mean cultivation of spirit, or humanity (WIlliams, 1976). This was especially true for 18th century Germany, where the word ‘Kultur” was almost used synonymously with the word civilization (WIlliams, 1976). This link between the word civilisation and culture, would eventually dominate throughout Europe in the late 18th century. During this time period (Romanticism) authors such as Herder and von Humboldt, propagated a distinction between material and spiritual development, civilisation became to mean spiritual, while culture meant materialism (WIlliams, 1976). They believed culture was a worldview related to different groups of people. In the 19th century, two uses for the word ‘culture emerged (WIlliams, 1976). The first use was related to the cultivation of ones spirituality, and evolved through the work of Matthew, who inspired
Throughout the ages, the word ‘culture’ has often had different meanings. For this assignment, I would like to focus on the evolution of the definition of ‘culture’ in 19th century Europe. I will give a brief description and timeline as outlined by (WIlliams, 1976), which gives us a glimpse into literature stemming from the selected time period.
Williams (1976), starts off by discussing the origins of the word ‘culture’ , which according to him, stem from the word L. Colere, which meant to “inhabit, cultivate, protect, honour with worship” p.87. Therefore up until the 18th century, the word ‘culture’ was mostly used to define agricultural practices, or husbandry. This was the case for most European countries, including France and England. It was only in the 18th century, where glimpses of the more modern meaning of ‘culture’ could be seen in the works of Milton, Austen etc. (WIlliams, 1976). The world culture had evolved to mean more than to cultivate (agriculturally), it had taken on a new more abstract form, that linked cultivation to the world civilisation, almost as if to mean cultivation of spirit, or humanity (WIlliams, 1976). This was especially true for 18th century Germany, where the word ‘Kultur” was almost used synonymously with the word civilization (WIlliams, 1976). This link between the word civilisation and culture, would eventually dominate throughout Europe in the late 18th century. During this time period (Romanticism) authors such as Herder and von Humboldt, propagated a distinction between material and spiritual development, civilisation became to mean spiritual, while culture meant materialism (WIlliams, 1976). They believed culture was a worldview related to different groups of people. In the 19th century, two uses for the word ‘culture emerged (WIlliams, 1976). The first use was related to the cultivation of ones spirituality, and evolved through the work of Matthew, who inspired