Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution was the major technological, socioeconomic and cultural change in the late 18th and early 19th century resulting from the replacement of an economy based on manual labor to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. It began in England with the introduction of steam power (fueled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing). The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the nineteenth century enabled the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries.

Related Topics:
Technological - Socioeconomic - Cultural - 18th - 19th century - England - Steam power - Coal - Machinery - Textile - Manufacturing - Machine tools

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The dating of the Industrial Revolution is not exact, but T.S. Ashton held it covers roughly 1760-1830, in effect the reigns of George III, The Regency, and part of William IV. There was no cut-off point for it merged into the Second Industrial Revolution from about 1850, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, and railways, and later in the nineteenth century the growth of the internal combustion engine and the development of electrical power generation.

Related Topics:
T.S. Ashton - 1760 - 1830 - George III - Regency - William IV - Second Industrial Revolution - 1850 - Ship - Railway - Internal combustion engine - Electrical power generation

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The effects spread throughout Western Europe and North America, eventually affecting the rest of the world. The impact of this change on society was enormous and is often compared to the Neolithic revolution, when mankind developed agriculture and gave up its nomadic lifestyle.

Related Topics:
Western Europe - North America - Society - Neolithic revolution - Agriculture - Nomadic lifestyle

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The term industrial revolution was introduced by Friedrich Engels and Louis-Auguste Blanqui in the second half of the 19th century.

Related Topics:
Friedrich Engels - Louis-Auguste Blanqui - 19th century

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