Overview
This lecture introduces the Industrial Revolution, explaining its significance compared to other revolutions, its origins in Britain, and the reasons behind its emergence.
The Industrial Revolution: What & When
- The Industrial Revolution (c. 1750-1850) was a dramatic increase in production due to machines and new energy sources.
- It began in Britain and eventually spread across much of the world.
- Nearly all aspects of modern life—electricity, transport, education, medicine—trace back to the Industrial Revolution.
Preconditions and Changes
- Pre-industrial societies had little change in lifestyle, low life expectancy, and most people farmed for subsistence.
- Before the Revolution, about 80% of people were farmers; today, it's less than 1% in the US.
- Major technological breakthroughs (e.g., steam engine, textile machinery) greatly increased productivity.
Key Innovations and Interconnectedness
- John Kay's flying shuttle (1733) increased weaving speed, creating demand for new spinning methods.
- The Spinning Jenny, water frame, and water/steam power mechanized textile production.
- Thomas Newcomen (steam engine) and James Watt (improved steam engine) enabled extensive use of coal and powered factories, railroads, and steamboats.
- Advances in chemical production and lead foundries contributed to industrial processes.
Why Britain? Debates and Explanations
- Eurocentric explanations include cultural superiority, rationality, scientific spirit, political freedoms, and small population size.
- Many such explanations also apply to China and India, who had rich histories and innovation.
- Britain had two main advantages: abundant, easily mined coal and high wages which encouraged labor-saving inventions.
- High British wages and cheap energy made it profitable to substitute machines for labor.
The Global Context and Indian Cotton
- China and India were economically advanced and creative, disproving simple cultural explanations for British industrialization.
- India led the world in cotton textile production with low wages and high agricultural productivity.
- Demand for Indian cotton textiles pushed Britain to mechanize its textile industry to compete globally.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Industrial Revolution — Period of rapid industrial growth powered by machines and new energy sources, starting in Britain around 1750.
- Steam engine — Machine that uses steam to create power; central to industrial advances.
- Flying shuttle — Device for faster weaving, increasing textile production.
- Spinning Jenny — Machine for spinning multiple yarns simultaneously, key in textile mechanization.
- Coal — Fossil fuel crucial for powering steam engines during the Industrial Revolution.
- Wages — Payments to workers; higher in Britain, incentivizing mechanization.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare for next week’s topic: Capitalism.
- Write down any questions about today’s lecture to discuss in class or in comments.