During the Industrial Revolution there was a rise in the use of the steam locomotive. The steam locomotive sped up the way people traveled and also made it possible to transport large amounts of goods easily and efficiently. Look at the maps provided and answer the questions that follow each map using your notes.

Railway Density in Kilometers, Europe, 1896

Source: Railwayneteurope1896, Olahaus, Wikimedia

1. Which country has the greatest number of railroads?
2. Based on the information provided on the map and what you have learned so far in this resource, what would cause certain countries to have a greater number of railroads?

In France, railways became a national medium for the modernization of backward regions by ending their isolation from economic and cultural epicenters, such as Paris. Consequently, France built a centralized system that radiated from Paris (plus lines that cut east to west in the south). This design was intended to achieve political and cultural goals rather than maximize efficiency.

Source: France1860railways, Ulamm, Wikimedia

1. Why do you think the first railways were constructed out of Paris, Strasbourg, and St. Etienne?
   
   
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   Sample Answer

   The railways originated from these three cities because they were early centers of industry in France and needed a railroad to ship goods. Paris, as the capital of France, was a natural location for an early railroad. St. Etienne in the 19th century was a rapidly growing city because of its proximity to coal mining and its concentration of industry. Similarly, Strasbourg was an expanding industrial city during the 19th century far from Paris, but the railroad could link it to Basel, a major city just over the border in Switzerland.
2. The railways helped the industrial revolution in France by facilitating a national market for raw materials, wines, cheeses, and imported manufactured products. Do you think it helped modernize the rural areas as well? Why or why not?
   
   
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   Sample Answer

   Based on the evidence provided, there is no "right" answer to this question, so your opinion could vary. The extensive railroad network probably exerted a modernizing influence and changed the economy of some rural areas. It also made travel to the capital of Paris and other major cities much easier, allowing for an exchange of culture. On the other hand, the railroad network does not cover France equally. There is plenty of area along the central coast in the south relatively untouched by the railroad. Those areas might not be as affected.