During the late 1800s, Britain flourished. It was a time of innovation and progress, directed by the leadership of Queen Victoria. Her limited political power allowed Victoria to have an enormous positive effect on the British Empire. She helped spread and popularize the new technology by using it herself and supporting it financially. She used her limited power to avoid conflict and war and was seen as a recognizable figure due to her middle-class values. Queen Victoria had her first encounter with the new technology in February 1837 while visiting her uncle. She became fascinated with the newly invented steam-powered railway trains. In 1840, her husband, Prince Albert, had a carriage built for Victoria and the two traveled from Windsor to London. 1 Seeing their monarchs traveling on trains reassured people of their safety and led many people to try them out of curiosity. Prince Albert was fascinated by technology, which greatly influenced Victoria. In the late 1840s, he dreamed of creating a place where new technologies and arts from around the world...