The Principal Cause of the Industrial Revolution

Introduction

The Industrial Revolution, a momentous period from the last part of the 18th century to the early 19th century, completely transformed the structure of society through the invention of new machinery, urbanization, and shifts in economic activities, mainly in Britain before later spreading the world over. This paper aims to demonstrate that the main driver of the Industrial Revolution was the significant progress in the field of technology and engineering, which resulted in phenomenally high rates of productivity and efficiency. This thesis is based on an investigation of the technological innovations that sustained industrial growth and the social and economic environment that promoted these developments.

To substantiate this argument, this paper will critically engage with four key texts: Allen’s “The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective,” exhaustive analysis of the economic and global factors impacting the Revolution; Landes’ “The Wealth and Poverty of Nations,” a study that dwells on the technology innovations as a determinant of economic disparities; Hobsabwm’s “Industry and Empire,” a historical lens through which the industrial changes and their effects on the British Empire are evaluated These sources were chosen for their analyses of the technological, economic and social aspects of the Industrial Revolution which make them comprehensive studies on the principal cause of the Industrial Revolution.

Background

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the economic domain was largely agrarian, with most of the people engaged in subsistence farming and production, which was mainly comprised of artisanal crafts and manual labour (Allen, 2009). society had a hierarchical structure with rigorous class distinctions and restricted social climbing. Technologically, the period was characterized by the use of simple tools and techniques for both agricultural and manufacturing activities, with water and wind being the primary energy sources (Wrigley, 2016).

The beginning of the Industrial Revolution led to a very serious change in the economic, social, and technological modes of thinking. The development of steam-powered machinery, culminating in the invention of the steam engine, brought changes in production methods, which led to higher efficiency and growth of industries. Examples are textiles and iron manufacturing (Landes, 2014). During this period, the factory system was developed; it brought centralization of production and profoundly modified the labour market and cityscapes (Hobsbawm, [1968] 1999).

Breakthroughs in technology before the Industrial Revolution, for instance, the Newcomen steam engine and the iron smelting improvements, were momentous for the speed of the later developments. The initial accomplishments laid the foundation for the transformative changes that followed, providing a platform for a new world order based on industrialized economies (Allen, 2009; Wrigley, 2016).

Principal cause analysis

The Industrial Revolution, which altered the entire world into a new economic, social, and technological shape, was based on the process of linking varied factors. In this analysis, the main factors contributing to the Industrial Revolution are examined, and the centrality of technological innovation is highlighted. However, the economic and social changes, as well as the political environment, also played a role.

Technological Innovation (Allen, 2009)

The Industrial Revolution was given momentum by a set of revolutionary technological advances that fundamentally changed how manufacturing, transportation, and communication were carried out. The two inventions of the steam engine and power loom, which were to cause drastic changes in the method of production, were done by James Watt. It was the steam engine, on the contrary, that had the most impact on the Industrial Revolution, having a multifunctional application in almost all aspects of the industry, which significantly increased the productivity as well as the efficiency of the industry (Allen, 2009). In transport, the beginning of the steam, locomotive, and rail system significantly eased the movement of goods and people, which in turn promoted market expansion and spread the previously isolated economic areas. Communication, which included the telegraph, was one of the areas that were developed, and, as a result, the manner in which information was shared among people changed, with information being spread faster, thus allowing faster decision-making and coordination across long distances.

These technological innovations were the main reason for the Industrial Revolution, which was brought by the provision of the opportunity