The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes that occurred in the period from about 1760 to some time between 1820 and 1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, the increasing use of steam power and development of machine tools.
The transition also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal. The Industrial revolution began in England and within a few decades spread to Western Europe and the United States.
The Industrial Revolution marks a major turning point in history; almost every aspect of daily life was influenced in some way. Most notably, average income and population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth. In the words of Nobel Prize winner Robert E. Lucas, Jr., "For the first time in history, the living standards of the masses of ordinary people have begun to undergo sustained growth ... Nothing remotely like this economic behavior has happened before".
Video for the Chapter (click below to view on this site):
1. BBC's The Industrial Revolution Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in 18th century Britain?
2. Crash Course World History: Coal, Steam, and the Industrial Revolution
3. Industrial Revolution Theme from London 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
4. Andrew Marr's History of the World: Age of Industry
BBC's The Industrial Revolution
Why did the Industrial Revolution happen in 18th century Britain? It happened because of the special combination of geological good fortune, the ascendancy of political liberalism, enlightened thinking and imperial power meant change was more likely to begin in Britain than elsewhere. The Industrial Revolution happened because the economic condition were right to ensure it sustained success. And finally, there was also one important change that still is with us today, the conviction that the future will never be the same as the past.
Crash Course World History: Coal, Steam, and the Industrial Revolution
In which John Green wraps up revolutions month with what is arguably the most revolutionary of modern revolutions, the Industrial Revolution. While very few leaders were beheaded in the course of this one, it changed the lives of more people more dramatically than any of the political revolutions we've discussed. So, why did the Industrial Revolution happen around 1750 in the United Kingdom? Coal. Easily accessible coal, it turns out. All this, plus you'll finally learn the difference between James Watt and Thomas Newcomen, and will never again be caught telling people that your blender has a 900 Newcomen motor.
Industrial Revolution Theme from London 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony
Andrew Marr's History of the World: Age of Industry
In the seventh episode of this landmark series charting the story of human civilization Andrew Marr tells how Britain's Industrial Revolution created the modern world. The old agricultural order of aristocratic landowners, serfs and peasant farmers was replaced by a new world of machines, cities and industrialists. Across the world, many resisted this sweeping change. From China to America, Russia to Japan, bitter battles were fought between the modernizers and those who rejected the new way of life. In Europe, new industrial powers competed with each other to create vast empires which dominated the world. But this intense competition would lead to the industrial-scale slaughter and destruction of the First World War.