1. Dawn of the Industrial Age
Starting in Britain, the Industrial Revolution was a long, slow, uneven process where production moved from simple hand tools to complex machines.
By: Emma Bunting

2. Life Changes as Industry Spreads
1750: many people lived the rural life, where they would have handmade tools and clothing and work the lands, growing their own food.
They did not know much about what was happening outside their village, as they would not travel very far
With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, this way of living began to change.
1850: Villages were transforming into industrial towns and cities.
Travelers of this age were able to move quickly through countries and continents either by train or steamship.
Messages would be delivered via telegraph wires.

3. Life Changes as Industry Spreads
Each year, new inventions and scientific “firsts” would be revealed to the public
American dentist uses anesthetic for the first time
American inventor created first sewing machine
French physicist measured the speed of light
Hungarian doctor introduced sterile methods

4. Farming Methods Improve
The Dutch built dikes in order to retrieve land from the sea, combined fields to make better use of the land, and use fertilizer from farm animals to renew the soil
Later, educated British farmers exchanged news of experiments through farm journals
One farmer, Jethro Tull, was particularly known for his invention, the seed drill, which would place seeds in rows neatly rather than scattering them.

5. The Seed Drill
Jethro Tull

6. Enclosure Increases Output but Causes Migration
Rich landowners took over and combined land that peasant farmers previously owned in a process called enclosure.
They did this in order to create larger fields which would be cultivated more effectively
The British Parliament made it easier to carry out enclosures through legislation

7. Enclosure Increases Output but Causes Migration
As a result of so many enclosures taking place, profits rose as large fields needed fewer workers
This meant that many workers lost their jobs and small farmers were forced off their land as they could not compare with large landholders.
Many people migrated to towns and cities in search of work and these people later united to form a work force that tended machines of the Industrial Revolution.

8. Population Multiplies
The agricultural revolution caused population to increase significantly
Britain’s approximate population
1700: 5 million
1800: 9 million
Europe’s approximate population
1700: 120 million
1800: 180 million
This rapid increase occurred because the revolution reduced the risk of death from food shortages; there was now a surplus of food.
People were also much healthier as they ate better and there was improved hygiene and medical care.

9. An Energy Revolution
New sources of energy were found such as coal, which was used to develop the steam engine
1712: Thomas Newcomen created a steam engine that was used to pump water out of mines
James Watt then studied this steam engine and made several improvements on it that became a key power source in the Industrial Revolution.
This engine led the way to powering locomotives and steamships

10. The Quality of Iron Improves
Coal was essential in producing iron
Abraham Darby was apart of a family that introduced new methods of producing iron
He decided to use coal to separate iron from its ore, which led him to create better quality iron at a cheaper rate
This iron was then used to create parts for the steam engine
Abraham Darby III, his grandson, was able to build the world’s first iron bridge.