The Industrial Revolution: Key Technologies and Impacts

Introduction

The Industrial Revolution was powered by a significant amount of new technology.
It occurred in two stages:
- First Industrial Revolution (1750-1830): Primarily in Great Britain.
- Second Industrial Revolution (Mid 19th century - early 20th century): Spread to Europe, the US, Russia, and Japan.

Coal as Main Fuel: Burns hotter than wood, essential for steam engines.
Steam Engine:
- Developed by James Watt in the 18th century.
- Utilized hot steam from coal-fired boilers to power machines and locomotives.
- Enabled factories to be built away from water sources.
- Powered locomotives and steamships, revolutionizing transportation.

Oil as New Fuel:
- Development of refining techniques led to products like gasoline.
- Internal combustion engines, more efficient than steam engines, powered automobiles.
Steel Production:
- Bessmer Process: Combined iron with carbon and hot air for stronger, cheaper steel.
- Steel became the main building material for infrastructure like bridges and railroads.
Chemical Engineering:
- Development of synthetic dyes, cheaper than organic dyes.
- Vulcanization of rubber for more durable materials, used in machinery and tires.
Electricity:
- Thomas Edison popularized its use with inventions like the light bulb.
- Powered factories, homes, streetcars, and subways.
Telegraph:
- Developed by Samuel Morse in the 1840s, allowed long-distance communication via Morse code.
- Transatlantic telegraph wire connected Britain and the US by the 1870s.

Development of Interior Regions:
- Expansion of railroads facilitated settlement in previously inaccessible areas.
- Telegraph allowed real-time communication and market intelligence.
Increase in Trade and Migration:
- Global trade increased tenfold between 1850 and 1913.
- Enhanced global economic interconnectivity.
- Massive migration from rural Europe to urban centers and from Europe to the Americas, Australia, and South Africa.

The Industrial Revolution drastically changed production, transportation, and communication, fostering economic growth and global interconnectedness.
Further resources and note guides are available to deepen understanding and study further.