The development of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of capitalism through the centuries brought about many kinds of historical changes that affected humans as well as their ways of life. This comparison of the features typical of these phenomena, such as technological progress, exploitation of labor, accumulation of wealth, and environmental degradation that followed, gives a general view of the impacts. The Industrial Revolution was the event that brought mechanization of the production process as well as the concentration of economic power that has been defining the present world since. Capitalism, the system that is based upon private ownership, maximization of profits, and market competition, is indeed very distinct. It has fundamentally shaped societies and structures. The two phenomena carried with them several chronic concerns that included labor exploitation, income inequality, and environmental degradation. The purpose of this essay is to identify issues raised by the two phenomena, examine their complexities, and show how they have so far impacted ancient human society. date.
Industrial Age and Labor Exploitation
Industrial exploitation of labor, particularly child labor, increased dramatically with the start of the Industrial Revolution in Britain in the late 18th century. There was a significant drop in neonatal mortality as the population increased, but the odds of surviving childhood remained the same. There were few options for working-class families to further their education, and children were expected to help with household expenses like adults. The early stages of the Industrial Revolution, which occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, saw the widespread use of child labor in manufacturing. There were 143 water-powered cotton mills in England and Scotland in 1788, and the majority of the workers, 66 percent, were minors. Even though their output was equal, employers paid children less than adults (Galbi 358). No seasoned adult workers were available because operating industrial machinery did not require physical strength, and the technology was novel. Child labor was widespread among factory and mine owners, who saw the lower stature of the workers as an advantage. The textile industry sought out youngsters for their supposedly “nimble fingers,” and mines with low and narrow corridors were ideal for their small stature, making them ideal laborers.
Similar effects are observed in the current age of the Industrial Revolution, commonly known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. According to Soh et al. (95), the 4th industrial revolution, which is characterized by a number of overlapping types of disruptive technological change, is about to cause a paradigm shift in businesses, governments, and society. More and more people are becoming aware that the future holds new risks, even though innovations like nanotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI) are usually depicted as fantastic possibilities for financial gain for businesses, improvements in citizens’ quality of life, and the growth of national economies. The 2018 United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights touched on artificial intelligence (AI), privacy (PI), and human rights (HR); however, the topics were often discussed in isolation from one another. Academics, especially economists, are deeply divided over whether or not automation and digitization will usher in a new era with many employment prospects or doom us all to a future without jobs.
Industrial Age and Technological Advancements
The Industrial Revolution, or the Industrial Age, is considered one of the most life-altering events in human history due to the far-reaching changes it brought about. The word “industrial revolution” is a concise way to characterize a time in history, beginning in the 18th century in Britain, when technological advancement seemed to accelerate. An explosion of new tools and machinery resulted from this quickening of technological innovation processes. The unusual combination of technology and industry throughout the Industrial Age was its most distinctive feature. Essential ideas and inventions shaped almost every human endeavor along industrial lines and created many new industries.
One of the key technological advancements was in agriculture. Agricultural practices in Western Europe have been steadily evolving for ages. A great leap in agricultural output occurred in 18th-century Britain due to a confluence of variables. This category (Industrial Revolution and Technology) included inventive tools like the seed drill, which Jethro Tull created in 1701. Other areas that saw improvement were animal husbandry, soil health, crop variety dev
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