Metals, Composites, and the Industrial Revolution
Metals
Metals are chemical elements that are good conductors of heat and electricity, typically solid at ordinary temperatures (except for mercury), and possess a characteristic brightness. Iron, calcium, and magnesium are abundant metals.
Properties
Metals are generally abundant, hard, and malleable. They conduct heat and electricity and can be combined to create alloys with enhanced properties. However, most metals are susceptible to corrosion, which can compromise the integrity of structures and
Read MoreAgriculture in the Americas: Temperate Plains to Industrial Farms
Drip Irrigation Challenges
Installation of drip systems is complex and costly, making it inaccessible for many small and medium producers.
Temperate Plains Agriculture in Latin America
The vast plains of Latin America with temperate climates, like the humid Pampas, are organized around favorable natural conditions: mild climate, sufficient rainfall, flat terrain, and fertile soils. They specialize in cultivating cereals (wheat and maize) and oilseeds (soybeans, sunflower, and flax) without artificial
Read MoreImmigration Trends in Spain: Population, Origins, and Employment
Read MoreImmigration of Foreigners in Spain
Spain has become an immigration country. Data are available for legal immigration status, but the true extent of irregular or illegal immigration is unknown. Over the past thirty years, the number of foreigners legally residing in Spain has increased from 65,000 to 400,000. Between 1989 and 1998, growth was rapid, but represented just 1% of the total Spanish population, a lower percentage than in other EU countries. However, their numbers grew rapidly, exceeding
Factors Affecting Agriculture: Physical, Human, and Economic Aspects
Factors Determining Agricultural Use
Agriculture is affected by physical and human factors. Physical factors can favor, hinder, or even prevent agricultural use, but they remain critical even in highly technified societies.
Physical Factors
Three main physical factors influence agriculture:
- Weather: Plants struggle in extreme temperatures or with excessive/scarce rainfall.
- Relief: Altitude and terrain slope impact agricultural activity. Slopes exceeding 10 degrees are generally unsuitable, although terracing
First Industrial Revolution: Origins, Impacts, and Social Changes
First Industrial Revolution
Until the late eighteenth century, Europe’s economy was based almost exclusively on agriculture and trade. Industrial products were handicrafts, made in private homes. In an artisanal economy, merchants gave wool to families for spinning and weaving, receiving the finished product in exchange for payment. This production form changed significantly between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, beginning in England. Several conditions enabled England to transform
Read MoreSocial Classes & Industrial Revolution Impacts
Lower Social Classes: Workers and Peasants
Distinction is made between agriculture (peasants) and industrial workers. Both groups make up the proletariat, living in precarious situations. Field workers produce food, the base of wealth produced by the industrial proletariat. Workers generally endure workdays up to 16 hours in exchange for meager wages and undignified living conditions. They live threatened by lack of protection against illness or unemployment, conditions that can condemn them to poverty
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