Final answer:
The late 19th century transformation of Paris into a modern metropolis involved wide boulevards, modern facilities, increasing bourgeoisie wealth, and a vibrant nightlife. Educational reforms led to mass literacy, facilitating greater public engagement in cultural activities. These changes reflected the broader social and cultural dynamism occurring during this period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transformation of Paris in the late 19th century under the direction of Baron Haussmann during the reign of Napoleon III profoundly changed city life. This era saw Paris turn from a medieval city with narrow, cobbled streets and open sewers into a modern metropolis with wide boulevards, modern sewage systems, and gas lighting, earning it the nickname "the city of lights." The displacement of the urban poor and the construction of new bourgeois apartment buildings and storefronts reflect the rise of a prosperous bourgeoisie. The improvement of living standards and development of nightlife in areas like Montmartre, with the Moulin Rouge and Moulin de la Galette, signaled a city alive with cultural dynamism and social change.
Urban renewal led to an explosion of culture in Paris, with the flourishing of the Impressionists who captured the spectacle of modernity, and a nightlife that was vividly depicted by artists like Toulouse-Lautrec. The creation of parks, shopping districts, and multi-class dwellings were indicative of the drive towards a grand urban center.
The 19th century also marked significant educational progress, with rising literacy rates leading to widespread cultural consumption and participation. This shift was exemplified by the introduction of free, public primary education in France in 1882. The spread of various forms of entertainment, including plays, operas, and music halls, catered to both the elite and the masses, suggesting a society increasingly engaged in recreational activity and consumption.