SThe 19th century was an age of monumental discoveries in science and technology, which led to a multitude of innovations that radically transformed people's lives. As the century progressed, major advances in medicine and the understanding of disease seemed to promise a new era in which humanity would finally be free of all its scourges. 2@Steam and electricity@
The development of steam and electricity as sources of power was one of the great triumphs of the 19th century. Steam-powered ships gradually replaced sailing ships, and the steam train supplanted the horse-drawn coach. Gas lights began to be superseded by the electric light bulb.
