The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period of major technological and economic transformation beginning in Britain in the mid-18th century, shifting societies from agrarian economies to industrial, factory-based production.
The revolution began in Britain around the 1760s, driven by innovations including the steam engine, improved textile manufacturing machinery, and new methods of iron production, which dramatically increased manufacturing efficiency.
The shift from home-based and small workshop production to large factories transformed labor patterns, drawing millions of people from rural areas into rapidly growing industrial cities, often under difficult working conditions.
The Industrial Revolution spread from Britain to Europe and North America over the following century, fundamentally reshaping global economies, labor systems, and standards of living, while also introducing new social challenges that spurred labor rights movements.