The Industrial Revolution

In short: The Industrial Revolution began in late 18th-century England and turned agriculture and crafts into factory production with machines. It fundamentally changed work, cities and society.

In more detail: The steam engine, mechanical looms and railways raised output. Coal became the main energy source.

In detail

• Steam engine: James Watt improved it around 1769; it powered factories and locomotives.
• Railway: The first German line ran in 1835 from Nuremberg to Fürth.
• Urbanisation: People moved to cities; housing shortage, long working days, child labour.
• Social question: Labour movement, trade unions, Karl Marx. In Germany Bismarck introduced social insurance from 1883 (sozialversicherung-die-fünf-säulen-in-deutschland).
• Second industrialisation: Electricity, chemistry, steel and the car around 1870–1914.
• Today: Digitalisation is often called the fourth industrial revolution.