Industrial Revolution: Urban Growth and Technological Progress

The Industrial City

During the Industrial Revolution, the influence of the countryside remained significant, but cities grew rapidly due to the rural exodus.

Initially, cities grew chaotically, accommodating factories and worker housing. By the 19th century, urban planning began to focus on sanitation, including the installation of sewers and street lighting. Neighborhoods were organized based on social class. The bourgeoisie abandoned the city centers for new urban areas, while factories were gradually moved to the periphery to mitigate noise and pollution. Working-class neighborhoods emerged nearby, characterized by poor, poorly ventilated housing where diseases spread easily.

The Second Industrial Revolution

Throughout the 19th century, technological advances and changes in manufacturing methods defined the era. This stage moved beyond the steam engine, introducing several key innovations:

• Energy: The drilling of the first oil wells and the rise of electricity, with Thomas Alva Edison perfecting the incandescent light bulb.
• Industry: The steel industry experienced a quantum leap with the Bessemer converter, and the chemical industry specialized in synthetic products.

Transportation Advancements

Transportation underwent a massive transformation:

• Railways: Networks expanded, such as the coast-to-coast line in the USA, which became a vital tool for colonization.
• Maritime: Ships transitioned to propeller propulsion and steel hulls, facilitating the growth of global trade in agricultural and industrial goods.
• Automotive and Aviation: The gasoline-powered car, created by Benz in 1886, saw widespread use by the 20th century, marking the dawn of the aviation era.

Reorganization of Labor and Capitalism

The reorganization of work significantly increased labor productivity. Frederick Taylor developed Taylorism, a method that assigned each worker a specific, unique task. This approach was later applied by Henry Ford in the assembly line.

Capitalism adapted to the needs of industrialization. Banks began holding savings and providing credit to industrial and railway enterprises. Companies moved toward business concentration through the creation of trusts and holding companies. Major corporations, such as Krupp in the weaponry sector, monopolized economic sectors to eliminate competition and control the market.