the
period in
English history during the
reign of Queen
Victoria, from 1837 to 1901, the longest
reign in
English history. This was a
period of industrial progress and
colonial expansion, when Great Britain was the most powerful nation in the
world. The
British Empire, which began in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries with the
establishment of
colonies in
North America, expanded rapidly during this
period.
Reaching its greatest extent at the end of the
Victorian age, it included
Australia, Canada,
India, New Zealand, large portions of Africa and many smaller territories throughout the
world. The
Victorian age was also known for its
conservatism. During the later part of her
reign, Queen
Victoria became known for
establishing strict
standards of personal morality and was said to be unforgiving of anyone who violated them. The
Victorian age itself became
synonymous with
old-fashioned, outdated or
prudish attitudes, particularly about
sex. Figuratively speaking, a "
Victorian age" would mean any such
period of
conservatism, strict morality and
prudish attitudes about
sex in a nation's
history.