What is the Industrial Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution forms the basis of the current economic order. It is called a revolution because it changed the order of the world. This revolution created a major and radical change in the structure of production and the country's economy. The revolution, which first began in the iron and steel sector and the textile sector, spread to all sectors in turn. This revolution has changed transportation, finance, the competitive environment, and social life. The revolution, which first began in England later spread to North America and Northern Europe. Nowadays, it affects all of our lives in different ways.
Why did the Industrial Revolution Start in England?
We don't have an exact reason but there are several possible reasons as to why the revolution began in England.
England had abundant coal deposits and wood was very scarce.
The wealthy ruling class in England was interested in economic development.
England had colonies, they had enough material with the colonies they had made.
The British Mainland was an island and they had a strong navy, which made the economic development safer and faster.
Consequences of the Industrial Revolution
Industrialization also had remarkable effects on the global population. In 1700, the world’s population was 670 million. By 2024, it had exploded to 8 billion. This was an unexpected increase in only 300 years. In the twentieth century alone, the world’s economy grew fourteen times larger. Meanwhile, per capita income quadrupled. In turn, workers and their families migrated in numbers never seen before. People in search of work moved by the millions from the country to the city, and even emigrated to new countries, just like now.
As people migrated, different problems began to arise. Because, as the area per person decreased, problems such as traffic and pollution arose. The air, water, and land pollution had become a serious problem for the people who live in overpopulated cities. The business structure brought about by the revolution also affected traffic. People went to big cities to get a better job. However, when they settled there, the number of companies increased over time and traffic became a problem.
Factories increased over time, and this increase resulted in even more air pollution. However, with the increase in factories, a new economic era began. Human-based production decreased over time and mechanization increased rapidly. This brought digitalization. In other words, we can say that the Industrial Revolution positively affected digitalization and technology. As human power began to be used in many jobs, some traditional professions disappeared over time. Especially the increase in digitalization is gradually bringing the end of many professions even now.
Conclusion The Industrial Revolution has affected the world in many ways, both positively and negatively. It can be argued that it has affected people positively or negatively depending on their profession and the situation they are in. However, today, with this revolution, digitalization and mechanization have reached an irreversible point.