The Industrial Revolution
The shift from hand production to machine manufacturing that began in Britain in the late 18th century and reshaped economies worldwide.
- Region
- Britain, then Europe, North America and Japan
- Period
- c. 1760 – 1840 (first phase)
Origins
Britain combined plentiful coal and iron, a growing textile trade and capital to invest. Spinning and weaving were mechanised, and improved steam engines from the 1770s freed factories from depending on water power.
Spread
Railways from the 1830s carried industry across Europe and North America. A second wave in the late 19th century added steel, electricity and industrial chemistry.
Legacy
Cities grew rapidly and factory labour replaced much farm work. Industrial demand for raw materials also drove colonial expansion, including the extraction of resources from Africa.