Thelong nineteenth century is a term for the 125-year period beginning with the onset of theFrench Revolution in 1789, and ending withthe outbreak of theFirst World War in 1914. It was coined by theSoviet writerIlya Ehrenburg^{[1][dead link]} and later popularized by the British historianEric Hobsbawm.

The concept is an adaption ofFernand Braudel's 1949 notion ofle long seizième siècle ("the long 16th century" 1450–1640)^[2] and "a recognized category ofliterary history", although a period often broadly and diversely defined by different scholars.^[3] Numerous authors, before and after Hobsbawm's 1995 publication, have applied similar forms of book titles or descriptions to indicate a selective time frame for their works, such as: S. Kettering'sFrench Society: 1589–1715 – the Long Seventeenth Century, E. Anthony Wrigley'sBritish Population During the 'Long' Eighteenth Century, 1680–1840, or David Blackbourn'sThe Long Nineteenth Century: A History of Germany, 1780–1918.^{[4][dead link][5][6]} However, the term has been used in support of historical publications to "connect with broader audiences"^[7] and is regularly cited in studies and discussions across academic disciplines, such as history, linguistics and the arts.^{[8][9][dead link][10][11][dead link]}

Hobsbawm lays out his analysis inThe Age of Revolution: Europe 1789–1848 (1962),The Age of Capital: 1848–1875 (1975), andThe Age of Empire: 1875–1914 (1987). Hobsbawm starts his long 19th century with theFrench Revolution, which sought to establish universal and egalitarian citizenship in France, and ends it withthe outbreak of theFirst World War, upon the conclusion of which in 1918 the long-enduringEuropean power balance of the 19th century proper (1801–1900) was eliminated.

In a sequel to the above-mentioned trilogy,The Age of Extremes: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914–1991 (1994), Hobsbawm details the "short 20th century" (a concept originally proposed byIván T. Berend), beginning with the First World War and ending with thefall of the Soviet Union, between 1914–1991.^[12]

A more generalized version of the long 19th century, lasting from 1750 to 1914, is often used byPeter Stearns in the context of the world history school.^[13]

In religious contexts, specifically those concerning thehistory of the Catholic Church, the long 19th century was a period of centralization ofpapal power over theCatholic Church. This centralization was in opposition to the increasingly centralized nation states and contemporary revolutionary movements and used many of the same organizational and communication techniques as its rivals. The church's long 19th century extended from theFrench Revolution (1789) until the death ofPope Pius XII (1958).^[14] This covers the period between the decline of traditional Catholic power and the emergence of secular ideas within states, and the emergence of new thinking within the church after the election ofPope John XXIII.

• Belle Époque
• Belgium in the long 19th century
• France in the long 19th century
• Long eighteenth century
• Long War (20th century), proposed byPhilip Bobbitt
• Women Philosophers in the Long Nineteenth Century

• The dictionary definition oflong nineteenth century at Wiktionary

• 1789
• 1790s
• 1910s
• 19th century
• Historical eras
• Historiography
• Periodization

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