Transcript Dawn of the Industrial Age Causes of the Industrial Revolution A Portrait of Life in 1750 Most people were peasant farmers who worked the.

Dawn of the Industrial Age
Causes of the Industrial
Revolution
A Portrait of Life in 1750
Most people were peasant farmers who
worked the land with hand tools.
 They knew very little of the world outside
their towns.
 They could not read or write, and
therefore had no education.
 All goods were produced at home
(clothing, food, etc.)

A New Agricultural Revolution

Improved methods of farming
 The
Dutch separated the land from the sea
and made fields larger.
 British farmers improved on this new
technology.

British Enclosure Movement
 Enclosing
small portions of land to create
large fields
 Many small farmers lost their jobs and moved
to cities.
The Population Explosion
European population rose from 120 to 190
million in less than a century
 Reasons for the explosion:

 Decreasing
death rate
 More food, less disease
 Better hygiene and sanitation
 Improved medical care
An Energy Revolution
In earlier times, people relied on the
strength of their own bodies for work.
 Water power became the standard during
the late 18th and 19th centuries.
 New sources of energy became available,
such as coal.
 1712: Thomas Newcomen developed the
very first steam engine (would be
improved later by James Watt)

Review Questions
1.)
What factors contributed to the
agricultural revolution?
2.)
Why did populations soar in Europe?
3.) What energy sources powered the
Industrial Revolution?