Table of Contents
First Industrial Revolution (1760 - 1840)
Overview: The First Industrial Revolution introduced mechanization and steam power, which revolutionized manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture. Major changes in textile and iron production, powered by innovations like the steam engine and the spinning jenny, reshaped society and the economy.
Key Events:
- 1764 - Invention of the Spinning Jenny by James Hargreaves.
- 1775 - James Watt’s improved steam engine spurs the rise of factories.
- 1800s - Growth of factory towns, labor changes, and urbanization.
Second Industrial Revolution (1870 - 1914)
Overview: Marked by advancements in steel production, electricity, and chemical industries, the Second Industrial Revolution enabled mass production and modern infrastructure development. Notable inventions like the telephone, light bulb, and automobile transformed industry and everyday life.
Key Events:
- 1870 - Bessemer process advances steel production.
- 1879 - Thomas Edison invents the practical light bulb.
- 1886 - Karl Benz builds the first automobile.
Modern Era Beginnings (1914 - 1945)
Overview: The transition into the Modern Era was catalyzed by global conflicts like World War I and II, which influenced industrial advancements, reshaped political alliances, and ultimately set the stage for contemporary geopolitics.
Key Events:
- 1914-1918 - World War I redefines global alliances and warfare technology.
- 1939-1945 - World War II ends with significant industrial and social shifts worldwide.