The Victorian Era spans the years 1836 to 1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was a time of British industrialization and imperial expansion that saw Britain become the world's richest and most powerful nation, controlling a quarter of the Earth's surface. Victorian society emphasized domesticity, religion, and strict gender roles. Scientific discoveries in this era, such as Darwin's theory of evolution, challenged religious beliefs and caused a rise in secularism and religious skepticism. Literature of the time frequently depicted everyday life and social issues in a realistic style.