What led to the Victorian trend towards modesty? Were there underlying cultural forces driving it? Did the Victorians deserve their reputation as being exceptional in this regard, or do they stand out because they brushed up against modernity?

by td4999
mimicofmodes

There is always more to be said, and I would be happy to answer follow-up questions, but you may be interested in this answer I wrote previously:

Why were the Victorians prudes?