# When did modern life begin? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047 "2004-10-25T14:14:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/21 "2004-10-26T19:00:13Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I also think that 11/11/1917 was another – It was the downfall of the Victorians and the dawn of the Intellectuals. Many would rather point to the first “over the top” assault: at that point people’s faith in the old order was irrevocably shattered, and you couldn’t go back to the old idealistic ways, even though they werent fully destroyed until the end of the war. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/22 "2004-10-26T20:12:34Z")
July 4, 1976. The Ramones played the Roundhouse in London, inspiring all of English punk rock. Seriously, I’d say World War I was the tipping point. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/23 "2004-10-26T21:58:23Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > Seriously, I’d say World War I was the tipping point. I would have said WWII but thinking about it I suppose it could go either way. From the First World War we had the introduction to the major political factions of the 20th century i.e. Fascism, Communism, Democracy (in a way) From the Second World War we had the introduction of modern technology, i.e. electronics, computers, rockets etc. I guess it all depends on whether you can consider technological advance a great enough effect to consdier it a new “life” Of course there are a million factors I haven’t even considered. But I’d put money on modern life beginning around some major event such as a war. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/24 "2004-10-27T06:44:01Z")
I’m surprised no-one has mentioned the upheaval caused by The Pill. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/25 "2004-10-27T10:37:11Z")
Or the end of legalized segregation, or the counterculture of the '60s. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/26 "2004-10-27T10:50:11Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > …I began to think of how two things – the industrial revolution and an egotistical decision by Queen Victoria – led, directly or indirectly – to the Bush Admin’s current policy in Iraq. Strange how easy it is to connect the dots on that. What egotistical decision Queen Victoriia made are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047/27 "2004-10-27T16:44:22Z")
Approximately 10,000 years ago, with the conversion from hunter-gatherer to agrarian culture, and, from that, the origins of permanent settlements and the recording of history. Of course, we’re in the midst of the transition _following_ that one, right now, but since it’s not done yet I can’t give you a timeframe for it and don’t know how much longer it’s going to take to settle down to a new stable system. But with the same approximational looseness with which I said 10,000 years ago, I’ll say end of the second millennium CE. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-modern-life-begin/271047.md?page=1)