The 18th century saw thorough and radical social, cultural and political changes. In a nutshell, we can define them as an attempt to free scientific, social and artistic research from the centuries-old patronages, such as those bestowed by the church and aristocratic or royal courts. Notwithstanding any evaluations of this period, the social changes led to, inter alia, the Great French Revolution, which abolished the established social order for the first time in Europe’s history. Scientific research led to ground-breaking discoveries and inventions, such as the steam engine, and in consequence resulted in massive changes in human migration, industrial development and, what is perhaps the most typical feature of the 19th century, the speed of travelling thanks to the use of railway.