An Industrial Society
Industrial Estate in Terrassa
In the 19th century, Catalonia became the most industrialized region in Spain: it has been stated that Catalonia was the factory of Spain. This industrial development - based on the hegemonic textile sector - took place between 1833, when the first steam-driven mechanized factory began to operate in Barcelona, and the eve of the First World War, when the Catalan economy could be considered to be fully industrial.
Industrialization gave rise to a new kind of society, different from the rest of Spain, with an increasing level of social conflict as well as increasing friction with the Spanish State, which was unable to respond to the interests of a society like the Catalan. This explains that throughout the 19th century, and inspired by the memory of medieval magnificence and lost liberties, movements arose that advocated for the recognition of the Catalan character. They went from early-century particularism to various forms of federalism and regionalism. This vindication was boosted as from the middle of the century by the revival of the Catalan culture and language advocated by what was known as Renaixença.
Industrialization gave rise to a new kind of society, different from the rest of Spain, with an increasing level of social conflict as well as increasing friction with the Spanish State, which was unable to respond to the interests of a society like the Catalan. This explains that throughout the 19th century, and inspired by the memory of medieval magnificence and lost liberties, movements arose that advocated for the recognition of the Catalan character. They went from early-century particularism to various forms of federalism and regionalism. This vindication was boosted as from the middle of the century by the revival of the Catalan culture and language advocated by what was known as Renaixença.