Infographics: The Age of Industrialisation | Social Studies (SST) Class 10 PDF Download

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The Age of Industrialisation 
Key Dates: Timeline of Industrial Transformation
1
1730s
First factories established in Britain
2
1764
James Hargreaves invents the 
Spinning Jenny
3
1781
James Watt perfects the steam 
engine
4
1854
First cotton mill opens in Bombay, 
India
5
1855
First jute mill established in Bengal
6
1860s
Elgin Mill (Kanpur) and Ahmedabad 
mill founded
7
1874
First mill established in Madras
8
1905
Swadeshi movement dramatically 
boosts Indian industry
9
1914-18
World War I creates boom in Indian 
industries
10
1931
Only 10% of workers employed in 
registered factories
Key Technological Breakthroughs
Spinning Jenny (1764)
Invented by James 
Hargreaves, this 
machine allowed one 
worker to spin multiple 
threads simultaneously, 
dramatically increasing 
textile production 
efficiency.
Water Frame & Cotton 
Mill
Arkwright's innovation 
used water power to 
drive spinning 
machines, leading to the 
first true factories and 
consistent production 
quality.
Steam Engine (1781)
James Watt's improved 
steam engine, 
developed with Mathew 
Boulton, provided 
reliable power 
independent of water 
sources, enabling 
factories anywhere.
The Indian Experience
1
Traditional Dominance
India controlled fine silk and cotton textile exports globally. Complex networks 
of merchants and skilled artisans supported thriving trade through established 
ports.
2
Colonial Control
East India Company introduced gomasthas (agents) to control weavers. Forced 
advances tied producers to the Company, reducing their independence and 
bargaining power.
3
Deindustrialisation
Manchester goods flooded Indian markets while tariffs blocked Indian exports. 
By 1850s, Indian textile exports fell from 33% to just 3% of total exports.
4
Industrial Revival
First cotton mill opened in Bombay (1854). Indian entrepreneurs like J.N. Tata 
and Birlas built new industries, focusing on yarn production and domestic 
markets.
Why Hand Labor Survived the Machine Age?
Hand-Made Advantages
Refined and intricate designs
Fashionable luxury items
Hammers, axes, and tools
Preferred by wealthy customers
Machine-Made Reality
Cheaper but lower quality
Mainly exported to colonies
Costly and unreliable equipment
Slower adoption than expected
India: From Textile Powerhouse to Colonial Victim
1
Pre-1750s
India controls fine textile exports 
worldwide
2
1750s Onward
European companies seize monopoly 
control
3
Colonial Period
Old ports decline, Bombay & Calcutta 
rise
The Destruction of Indian Textile Industry
33%
1811-12 Exports
Indian textiles as percentage of total exports
3%
1850-51 Exports
Dramatic collapse in textile exports
Britain systematically destroyed India's textile industry through a three-pronged attack: 
Imposing heavy tariffs on Indian textiles, 
Flooding India with cheap Manchester imports, 
During the American Civil War (1860s), Indian cotton prices rose so high that local 
weavers couldn't afford raw materials.