Lecture Notes: Spread of the Industrial Revolution

Introduction

• The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain.
• Spread rapidly due to technological advancements, particularly the steam engine.
• Steam engines allowed factories to be built almost anywhere, not just near water.
• Influenced global trade and economy by enabling faster transportation of goods.

Key Technology: Steam Engine

• Converted fossil fuel into mechanical energy.
• Freed factories from needing to be near water bodies.
• Enabled mass production and faster distribution of goods.

Factors Influencing Industrial Spread

• Adoption of industrialization varied by region.
• Factors influencing spread:
  • Availability of coal
  • Waterways access
  • Government policies

Industrialization in Europe

• Western Europe:

  • France began industrializing after 1815, post-Napoleon era.
  • Slower industrialization due to lack of coal and iron deposits.
  • Construction of Quenton Canal spurred development.

• Eastern and Southern Europe:

  • Lagged due to lack of resources and powerful traditional structures (e.g., nobility).

Global Manufacturing Shifts

• Shift in power balance to industrialized nations like Great Britain, France, and the USA.
• Decline in traditional manufacturing in regions like the Middle East and Asia.
• Examples:
  • Decline of textile production in India and Egypt.
  • Decline of shipbuilding in India and Southeast Asia.

Case Studies

• France:

  • Industrialized post-Napoleon, slower but stable.
  • Developed cotton and silk industries.

• United States:

  • Rapid industrialization post-Civil War.
  • Benefited from vast resources and stable political climate.
  • Economic growth led to a higher standard of living.

• Russia:

  • State-driven industrialization under the Tsar's command.
  • Built the Trans-Siberian railroad.
  • Industrial growth led to worker unrest culminating in the 1905 Revolution.

• Japan:

  • Initiated Meiji Restoration in response to Western pressures.
  • Rapid adoption of Western technology and educational methods.
  • Became a dominant industrial power in Asia.

Conclusion

• Industrial Revolution led to a division between industrial and non-industrial nations.
• Industrial nations gained economic and political power.