Blog #11

                                    The Industrial Revolution – Why Britain?

Around the 1700s, cultural exchanges in Europe had relatively changed especially in Britain which was the first European state to experience the Industrial Revolution.  The Industrial Revolution brought tremendous effects on politics, economics, culture, and society.  The industrial revolution turned agricultural based economies into industrial economies.  

            Britain acquired an Empire established trading ports, then governmental roles.  Britain had two important advantages  that consisted of productive and wealthy agricultural system and creative inventors in science.  The United Kingdom dictated the progress of the rest of Europe after 1750.  The first spinning frames were created.  Gradually textile factories and the iron industry skyrocketed.  Scientific technology later developed with the discovery of atmospheric pressure and vacuums, along with the improvements of the steam engine.   However, the industrial revolution exploited many workers who were poor and in need for work.  This introduce new labor systems.  Eventually,  the  Industrial Revolution consisted of the substitution of mechanical devices versus human skills, the substitution of inanimate power from steam which led to the railroad system versus human and animal power, and improvements in obtaining and working raw materials, such as metal which formed bridge building and organization.

            Thus transportation technologies linked cultural exchange and improvements in communication.  Today, technology improvements continue and has rapidly been important development for many regions.