Industrial Revolution

For the longest time in history agriculture, arts and crafts were the first sources of income and a safety net for productivity in a country. During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the use of natural resources altered work dynamics and customs to the advantage of productivity and the bettering of social conditions of workers and opening doors to globalization.

To what extent has the Industrial Revolution been a key element of the globalization?

Let's start off with some nice old history, shall we!

Contrarily to many beliefs there has been several waves of Industrial Revolution:

1- First Wave

In the 18th Century, England and France, Belgium and Switzerland, discovered that other than agronomy, arts and crafts, natural resources like coal could be used not only on a bigger scale: the industrial sector.

The steam machine aka Watt's machine invented in 1789 marked a turning point in the industrial sector as machines could be more efficient and perform what men could not. It has been the case for the train industry, communication and circulation generally speaking was made easier and benefited exchanges in the market.

Thanks to this first wave, as companies produced and sold more it helped build up bourgeoisie and the working class. The transformation of the Transportation industry also opened doors to the libration of markets. However, the working conditions weren't optimal as coal miners not only worked themselves to death, they weren't immune to silicosis or other diseases linked to coal mining. Moreover, children who did not have access to education worked to help support their families.

2- Second wave

Thanks to inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla, electricity became a new and better supply of energy. The production capacity of machines rooted by electricity multiplied. With the rise of socialism and the reactivity of union trades, workers benefited from more protection and thankfully children were spared from child work. At this point, each country going through this revolution started specialising themselves in the production of specific productions thus having a certain monopoly on the national and international market. The economic hierarchy was set in that way at the time and birthed the European Economic Community in the late fifties.

3- The Third Industrial Revolution

We are currently living in the TIR. The technology development has completely changed the notion of productivity in a country. It is the main reason why the third secretor has become so successful. New sustainable, and hybrid energy engines have been created for the improvement of the climate emergency and better working conditions.

The internet and the digitalisation of work cross time and space ad bring people together. Who would have thought that we could purchase goods from the other side of the world with just a smartphone?

Do you think that the TIR has lead globalisation to its peak?