Industrial Revolutions and Economic Sectors
The First Industrial Revolution
In the mid-18th century, some European regions began to move from artisanal to industrial production. Steam-powered machines replaced manual labor, and industrial work moved from workshops to factories.
Factories were initially built next to rivers to utilize the energy of running water. Later, with coal becoming a common energy source, they relocated to cities. The British textile industry was the first to introduce these changes.
The Second Industrial Revolution
The
Read MoreChristopher Columbus: Voyages and Legacy
Christopher Columbus (c. 1451 – May 20, 1506, Valladolid, Spain) was a navigator, cartographer, Admiral, Viceroy, and Governor General of the Indies in the service of the Crown of Castile. He is famous for the so-called discovery of America in 1492.
The Origins of Columbus
The origin of Columbus is debated, and various locations are postulated as his homeland. The thesis that he was born in Genoa is mostly supported, although the existing documentation has gaps and mysteries. Furthermore, his son,
Read MoreSpain’s Railway History: Impact and Development
The Development of Railways in Spain and Their Economic Impact
During these years, twenty railway companies were created. The most important were predominantly French, such as Madrid-Zaragoza-Alicante (MZA), Northern Rail, and Sevilla-Jerez-Cádiz. However, there were also other significant Spanish companies.
Subsidies and state guarantees, along with expectations of large profits, spurred the development. However, starting in 1864, it became clear that earnings expectations were dashed. The agricultural
Read MoreEnvironmental Issues and Policies: EU and Spain
Environmental Problems: A Global Crisis
The 20th-century economic model relied on mass production, consuming vast amounts of energy as if resources were limitless. This has caused major environmental problems:
Air Pollution
- Causes: Emissions from industries, power plants, traffic, and domestic heating.
- Consequences:
- Global warming and climate change (CO2 emissions).
- Thinning of the ozone layer (CFC emissions from refrigerants and aerosols).
- Acid rain (sulfur oxides and nitrogen emissions from central heating
Industrial Revolution: Transformation and Impact
Industrial Revolution
Background
- Commercial Revolution
- Scientific Revolution
- Intellectual Revolution
- Atmosphere of discovery and free intellectual inquiry
Definition
What was the Industrial Revolution?
- It was a change in how goods were produced and distributed, from human and animal power to machines.
- Describes a process of economic change from an agricultural and commercial society into a modern industrial one:
- Machines were invented.
- New energy sources were developed.
- Increased use of metals and minerals.
Understanding the Old Regime: Society, Economy, and Absolutism
The Old Regime: Key Features
The Old Regime was characterized by three main features: a society divided into estates, an economic system heavily reliant on agriculture, and an absolute monarchy.
Class Society: The Estates System
Society was organized into three distinct orders, or estates:
- The Nobility: Divided into high and low nobility. The high nobility possessed extensive landholdings and significant wealth.
- The Clergy: Also divided into high and low clergy. The high clergy was often composed of