NCERT Summary: The Early Societies (Theme 9: The Industrial Revolution) | NCERT Video Summary: Class 6 to Class 12 (English) - UPSC PDF Download

Industrial Revolution

• Industrial revolution started in England and spread in different parts of the world gradually.
• The term ‘Industrial Revolution’ was used by European scholars-Georges Michelet in France and Fried-rich Engels in Germany.
• It was used for the first time in English by the philosopher and economist Arnold Toynbee to describe the changes that occurred in British industrial development between 1760 and 1820.
• The Industrial Revolution revolutionized the techniques and organization of production in the later half of the eighteenth century.
• England was both politically and economically a sound nation.
• Agricultural Revolution laid down the foundation of the Industrial Revolution.
• England had a huge domestic and international market under his control which helped in the growth of Industrial Revolution.
• England had a number of colonies in Asia, Africa and Europe. These helped in obtaining the raw material for industries.
• The onset of textile industry also helped in the emergence of Industrial Revolution.
• Abraham Darby brought about a revolution in the metallurgical industry.
• In the 1770’s, John Wilkinson made the first iron chairs and iron pipes of all sizes.
• Thomas Savery built a model of steam engine i.e. Miner’s friend in 1698.
• Another steam engine was built by Thomas New comen in 1712. The steam engine had been used only in coal mines until
• James Watt (1736-1819) developed his machine in 1769.
• In 1814, the railway engineer George Stephenson (1781-1848) constructed a locomotive called ‘The Blutcher’ that could pull a weight of 30 tons up a hill at 4 mph.
• The Mines and Collieries Act of 1842 banned children under 10 and women from working underground.
• The condition of workers was quite miserable. They became the victims of restlessness, epidemics and diseases.
• John Kay invented Flying Shuttle in 1733. By this invention the entire textile industry was revolutionized.
• James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny.
• Richard Arkwright invented water frame in the year 1769.

Important terms

• Industrial Revolution: Use of machinery in industries and its effects on the English societies.
• Iron-Smelting Kilns: Blast furnace.
• Stapler: A small device used for putting staples into paper, etc.
• Sepoy: Indian soldier in the service of the British.
• Vagrant: A person without a settled home or regular work.
• Carding: A process prior to spinning cotton or wool.
• Orient: The countries to the east of Mediterranean.
• Luddism: A movement led by the charismatic General, Ned Ludd.

Timeline