The Industrial Revolution: Crash Course European History #24

Introduction to the Industrial Revolution

In this section, John Green introduces the Industrial Revolution and highlights how it transformed human history.

The Industrial Revolution

• In 1820, people in England lived a life similar to those of people in 1720 or even 1220.

• By 1920, most people in England did not work in agriculture. They measured time in minutes, had cars, radios, refrigerators and airplanes.

• The Industrial Revolution was one of the most significant developments in human history.

Factors that led to the Industrial Revolution

This section discusses some of the factors that contributed to the emergence of the Industrial Revolution.

Factors Contributing to the Emergence of the Industrial Revolution

• European productivity increased due to revolutions in agriculture and trade.

• Lives were getting longer and populations rising. This meant that on average people had a little more time to learn, tinker, and experiment.

• Many different artisans invented small improvements to existing mechanical devices.

Emergence of Factories

This section discusses how factories emerged during the Industrial Revolution.

Emergence of Factories

• European industrial production is said to have begun in the eighteenth century.

• Spinning machines such as spinning jenny and water frame were invented which allowed for greater thread production.

• The world's first factories arose from pressure to increase production of English cloth for global and domestic markets.

The Industrial Revolution and the Role of Porcelain and Pineapples

This section discusses how porcelain and pineapples were symbols of affluence in European paintings, and how porcelain was a practical material for dishware due to its heat resistance.

Porcelain and Pineapples in European Paintings

• Porcelain and pineapples were frequently depicted in European paintings as symbols of affluence.

• Europeans did not know how to make heat-resistant dishware for their hot drinks, so porcelain became a practical solution.

• Böttger was imprisoned until he figured out how to make porcelain around 1708, although it was not as beautiful as Chinese or Japanese porcelain.

Collaboration and Spying During the Industrial Revolution

This section discusses how collaboration among people led to incremental improvements during the Industrial Revolution, rather than individual geniuses creating amazing things. It also mentions industrial spies who helped with every development because other regions were far more advanced than Europe in manufacturing.

Incremental Improvements Through Collaboration

• The Industrial Revolution was the story of lots of people working together, making a series of incremental improvements.

• Workers lost limbs or died from industrial accidents that happened all the time due to lack of knowledge about steam-powered machinery.

Industrial Spies

• Industrial spies helped with every development because other regions were far more advanced than Europe in manufacturing.

• Industry thrived due to slave labor, inexpensive child labor, and the labor of women who were paid less than men.

The Impact of Industry on Everyday Life

This section discusses how industry had a snowball effect, transforming everyday life. It also mentions how the development of the steam engine led to the creation of trains and steamships, which changed transportation.

The Steam Engine

• Over time, more and more people began working in industrialized settings or in economic sectors that supported industry due in part to the development of the steam engine.

• James Watt's steam engine was more efficient than earlier models, making it useful for replacing animal and water power not just in mines but also powering textile factories and other machinery.

Transportation

• Steam power completely revolutionized how much work could be done on behalf of humans, changing transportation when it was attached to covered and uncovered wagons and ships to make trains and steamships.

• Urbanization soared around railway hubs, leading to the construction of small and grand train stations along with all other buildings to house primary and secondary employees.

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