Industrial Revolution: Innovations, Society, and Global Impact
Classified in Geography
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Technological Progress and Innovation
Technological progress was the very heartbeat of the Industrial Revolution. It was not a single invention that changed everything, but rather a continuous process of innovation. Macro-inventions, such as the steam engine or mechanical spinning machines, opened entirely new possibilities. These groundbreaking innovations were then followed by micro-inventions—smaller, cumulative improvements that refined and expanded their use.
In the textile industry, a series of pivotal inventions revolutionized the production of cotton, making Britain the dominant textile exporter by the 19th century. Key advancements included:
- The flying shuttle (John Kay, 1733)
- The spinning jenny (James Hargreaves, 1764)
- The water frame