Romanticism (also the
Romantic era or the
Romantic period) was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850. Romanticism was characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as glorification of all the past and nature, the latter also being celebrated. It was partly a reaction to the
Industrial Revolution, the aristocratic social and political norms of the
Age of Enlightenment, and the scientific
rationalization of nature. It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature, but had a major impact on historiography, education, and the
natural sciences. It had a significant and complex effect on politics, and while for much of the Romantic period it was associated with
liberalism and
radicalism, its long-term effect on the growth of
nationalism was perhaps more significant.