The Industrial Revolutions: the Effects on Europe and the World
Introduction
The sudden acceleration of technical and economic development that began in Britain in the second half of the 18th century. The traditional agrarian economy was replaced by one dominated by machinery and manufacturing, made possible through technical advances such as the steam engine. This transferred the balance of political power from the landowner to the industrial capitalist and created an urban working class. From 1830 to the early 20th century, the Industrial Revolution spread throughout Europe and the USA and to Japan and the various colonial empires. The term `Industrial Revolution´ has been criticized on the grounds that it implies a sudden and dramatic change, whereas the process of industrialization was long drawn out, erratic, and varied from industry to industry and from region to region. It should be understood in the context of the continuing social and political changes, agricultural innovations, accumulation of capital, and expansion of trade which had taken place in the 17th century and earlier.
The Industrial Revolution in Europe
The tale of modern European history can be seen as a series of revolutions. The Protestant Reformation was truly a revolution in Christian worship. The Scientific Revolution gave birth to a completely new way of thinking about the universe. The French Revolution attempted to establish a government along the lines of Enlightenment ideals. And the Industrial Revolution brought manufacturing into the modern era of mass production and consumption.
The Scientific Revolution, of course, was a major prerequisite of the Indus trial Revolution. It created a climate of fascination with mechanics, physics, and technology without which the engineering achievements of the Industrial Revolution could never have taken place.
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain long before it developed on the European continent. This was due to a variety of factors, including Britain’s stable government and society and
The sudden acceleration of technical and economic development that began in Britain in the second half of the 18th century. The traditional agrarian economy was replaced by one dominated by machinery and manufacturing, made possible through technical advances such as the steam engine. This transferred the balance of political power from the landowner to the industrial capitalist and created an urban working class. From 1830 to the early 20th century, the Industrial Revolution spread throughout Europe and the USA and to Japan and the various colonial empires. The term `Industrial Revolution´ has been criticized on the grounds that it implies a sudden and dramatic change, whereas the process of industrialization was long drawn out, erratic, and varied from industry to industry and from region to region. It should be understood in the context of the continuing social and political changes, agricultural innovations, accumulation of capital, and expansion of trade which had taken place in the 17th century and earlier.
The Industrial Revolution in Europe
The tale of modern European history can be seen as a series of revolutions. The Protestant Reformation was truly a revolution in Christian worship. The Scientific Revolution gave birth to a completely new way of thinking about the universe. The French Revolution attempted to establish a government along the lines of Enlightenment ideals. And the Industrial Revolution brought manufacturing into the modern era of mass production and consumption.
The Scientific Revolution, of course, was a major prerequisite of the Indus trial Revolution. It created a climate of fascination with mechanics, physics, and technology without which the engineering achievements of the Industrial Revolution could never have taken place.
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain long before it developed on the European continent. This was due to a variety of factors, including Britain’s stable government and society and