Industrial Revolution: Phases, Impacts, and Global Transformation
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution is a process of change that shifted production from craftsmanship to mechanized work. It ended traditional production methods and influenced the decline of the Old Regime’s societal structures in Britain. Beginning in the 18th century, it spread globally throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. It is distinguished by three phases:
First Industrial Revolution (1750-1870)
- Originated in Great Britain.
Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1950)
- Extended to Japan, the USA, Russia, and parts of Latin America.
Third Industrial Revolution (1950-Present)
- Worldwide expansion.
Population
Old Regime: High birth and mortality rates.
1st Industrial Revolution: High birth rate, low mortality due to medical improvements and food availability. Natural population growth led to increased food demand, need for manpower, and spatial movements (rural exodus and emigration to the Americas, Africa, and Australia from Europe).
2nd Industrial Revolution: Decreased birth and mortality rates, increased vegetative growth, and higher life expectancy. Rural exodus to cities due to historical factors, urban expansion, and the development of bourgeois and working-class suburbs. Continued emigration from the Americas, Africa, Australia, and Asia to Europe.
3rd Industrial Revolution: In developed countries, birth and mortality rates decrease, resulting in zero, low, or negative population growth, aging populations, and high life expectancy. In developing countries, birth and mortality rates remain high, leading to young populations and low life expectancy. Spatial movements from Africa, America, and Asia to Southeast Asia, Europe, the USA, and Australia.
Agriculture
Old Regime: Biennial or triennial crop rotation system on lands owned by the privileged. Open fields, subsistence farming with basic tools.
1st Industrial Revolution: Norfolk crop rotation system, land ownership by the bourgeoisie, enclosure acts, and innovations like the mower, thresher, planter, plow, and manure. New crops such as potatoes and maize were introduced. Market agriculture prevailed.
2nd Industrial Revolution: Decline in agricultural production and development. Emergence of chemical fertilizers and tractors.
3rd Industrial Revolution: In tropical regions, resting and intensive farming systems prevail, along with irrigation and nomadic cattle farming. In temperate regions, intensive rainfed agriculture dominates, featuring the Mediterranean trilogy (cocoa, grapes, and olives). Greenhouse farming is intensive, controlled, and sedentary.
Energy Sources
Old Regime: Charcoal was the main energy source.
1st Industrial Revolution: Coal enabled the creation of the steam engine and the use of copper.
2nd Industrial Revolution: Oil powered the internal combustion engine, and electricity was used for hydroelectric power, electric motors, and communication media.
3rd Industrial Revolution: Nuclear and alternative energy sources like wind, solar, tidal, hydro, geothermal, and biomass predominate.
Industry
Old Regime: Craft production with a guild system. Wrought iron was used. Transportation relied on cars, horses, sailboats, or rowing.
1st Industrial Revolution
- Textile Industry: Two spinning machines (spinning jenny and water frame) and two weaving machines (flying shuttle and mechanical loom) were invented. This resulted in increased cloth and cotton production, lower costs, and higher profits. Textiles were produced in Manchester, UK, and transported through the port of Liverpool.
- Iron and Steel Industry: Two types of iron were used: cast iron and wrought iron, obtained through puddling. They were used to make machines.
- Transportation: Railroad tracks, cars, and locomotives were developed for commercial transport. Steamboats with paddle wheels were also used.
2nd Industrial Revolution
- Textile Industry: The sewing machine was invented by Singer.
- Chemical Industry: Dyes, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, cement, concrete, and soap were developed.
- Iron and Steel Industry: The Bessemer converter was invented to transform iron into steel. Copper and aluminum were used for machinery, construction, transport, and weapons.
- Construction: Iron and steel were used extensively, along with copper, metal, cement, concrete, and glass. This led to the construction of skyscrapers.
- Transportation: Metal rails, steamships (including transatlantic ones with helix propellers), metropolitan railways (first steam-powered, then electric), trams, cars, and air transport (like zeppelins and airplanes) were developed.
3rd Industrial Revolution
- Transportation: Aerospace and biofuels are prominent.
- Industry: Biotechnology (medicine, biology), aeronautics (satellites, spacecraft), information technology (IT, telecommunications), weapons (nuclear), and synthetic materials (plastics, ceramics, and metals) are widely used.