The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution (c. 1760–1840) marked the transition from hand production to machine manufacturing, chemical processes, iron production, water and steam power. Beginning in Britain, it spread to Western Europe and North America. Key innovations included James Watt's steam engine (1769), the spinning jenny (1764), the power loom (1785), and the steam locomotive (1804). The revolution transformed society through urbanization, creation of a factory working class, expanded middle class, and accelerated technological progress. It also brought challenges including child labor, pollution, and social upheaval.