The Industrial Revolution was a transition to new manufacturing processes . It spread gradually over Europe beginning in the mid 18th century as the population grew. More people meant more workers, and more efficient methods of production were needed to supply the basic needs all those people needed. Before this age, "manufacturing" consisted of home projects, and agriculture dominated society. People worked from dawn to dusk. This slowly transitioned into people working shifts at factories, using heavy machinery and mass production to develop many inventions. In this time, the steam engine, iron and textiles all were invented or advanced.
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Europeans colonized areas such as Africa so they had a greater access to resources which would fuel the Industrial Revolution. New technologies from this age helped Europeans with imperialism, especially with colonizing Africa. A few of these technologies included steamboats to travel more inland and quinine medicine to moderate the effects of Malaria. The most important technology was guns, allowing the British and other Europeans to conquer through force.
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Queen Victoria ruled England during much of the age of Imperialism and the Industrial Revolution. She and her government sent several men on missions to expand the empire and gain more global power. For example, Cecil Rhodes established the colony Rhodesia in Africa. This PBS documentary below explains all of England's accomplishments-and mistakes made-under her rule.
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