Technology, Energy and Civilization - Essay Example

Technology, Energy and Civilization Name Course Instructor Date Introduction According to the word help, an online dictionary, a revolution is a far reaching drastic change in ways of thinking and doing things, hence the Industrial revolution is the dramatic and rapid economic transformation and social upheaval which saw the great increase in output of machine-made goods that started in England in the mid-1700s. People used to weave textiles by their hands as well as do many other jobs before the Industrial Revolution. Invention and introduction of machines saw the use of man labor been waved out as these machines began to do those jobs. Not long afterwards, the Industrial Revolution spread to the Continental Europe and North America from England. The Industrial Revolution in England involved accelerated change in many aspects of society, transcending the artificial boundaries of narrowly defined economic dimensions. These include among many others the role of religion in society, entertainment culture and rights of women. According to Goloboy (2008) the industrial revolution was not the start of industrialization; by mid eighteenth century manufacturing was commonplace in the cities of Europe and in the Country side. He further states that industrial revolution did not increase the number of hours used in the manufacturing process; while output increased greatly it had more to do with the increase in productive capacity. Earlier claims to industrial revolution can be traced back to the medieval ages and renaissance which had witnessed inventions that greatly improved fields such as agriculture, shipping, textiles, communications, iron making and warfare. Housel (2007) views the middle ages as the most inventive era of mankind, he dubs this period as the first industrial revolution in Europe. Key scientific and technological features of an Industrial Revolution The industrial revolution was marked by advancement in science and technology. This promoted inventions and production of machines which helped to improve productivity. Among the key technological changes that marked the industrial revolution was the use and search of new sources of energy. These new sources of energies were used as fuels and for motive power. The steam engine was one of the key inventions in this category, invented by James Watt in 1963, the engine was used to pump water out of mines, it gained widespread use in iron ore smelting, steam driven locomotives and in the textile industry. Prior to the industrial revolution the sources of energy were purely human, animal or Organic; the use of human labor, Horses, oxen, wood, charcoal and water. These sources of energy were replaced by the quest for mineral fuels such as coal, and oil, electricity was also incorporated as a source of energy in this period. New basic materials were introduced in this period, materials such as iron and steel. The use of new fuels in the blast furnaces helped in the smelting of iron ore. Charcoal was replaced by coke reduced costs of accessing forests to look for charcoal. Furnaces became more efficient as better machinery was used to push air to the blast furnaces. In 1785 Henry Cort created the paddling and rolling process which was one of the most epochal breakthroughs in helping turn pig iron to wrought iron (Goloboy, 2008). In steelmaking Benjamin huntsman perfected crucible steel which was high quality and became popular the world over, it was further mass produced later in the nineteenth century. Increased production was spurred by the invention of new machines, such as the spinning jenny in 1767 and the power loom in 1787 resulting to lesser expenditure on human labor in their textile industry. Enormous progress was made in machine and instrument improvement, machines were made to be more accurate and efficient thus industries overhauled their old machinery and replaced them with more accurate and efficient machinery. Another key technological feature of the industrial revolution was the development of the system of working; which entailed specialization of key functions and division of labor. The Factories also created much more output than the small cottage industries. Prior to the industrial revolution people worked from homes, adjoined workshops or fields. While factories helped increase output they also came with increased challenges which as they were solved, evolved to the modern practices of management. Human resource management and concepts of standardization to ensure quality were products of ideas that solved the challenges that faced the factories. This period also saw new developments in transportation which included the invention of locomotives, the steamship, the automobile and the airplane. Better and faster transportation accessed manufacturers to raw materials cheaply. It also allowed helped in distribution of goods manufactured. Communication was also improved in this period, firstly because of better transportation networks and secondly because of inventions such as the telegraph and the radio. The application of science to industry increased in this period scientist such as Joseph Black influenced the improvement on the Watt’s steam engine. In the same regard Charles Tennant and John Roebuck applied chemistry to use a lead chamber process to produce sulphuric acid cheaply and efficiently thus reducing the cost of bleaching inputs. Though the significance of the contribution of science in the industrial revolution is sometimes disputed, it helped greatly to improve inventions of inventors who did not have a scientific background. Industrial revolution in the middle ages (3) The middle Ages were one of the most inventive eras of mankind. The then scientists and engineers were in a search for energy sources alternative to the hydraulic power, wind power and tidal energy. The period of time between the tenth and thirteenth centuries saw Western Europe experience a technological boom. This first industrial revolution was accompanied by some features like great increase in people’s population. This increase in population on the other hand led to massive movements of people. The people emigrated; opened up and colonized new lands; they founded and built new towns. Favorable conditions helped in the growth of free enterprise. Capitalists companies whose shares were sold and bought were formed. The entrepreneurs indulged in ruthless means of doing business to conceal competition. There came up massive labor divisions to increase the efficiency and the enterprises called into being manual laborers whom they could exploit. The workers counterattacked with wage claims, absenteeism and strikes. Energy consumptions increased greatly. The innovations of technology caused improvements in the efficiency of the available methods while leading to the search of new energy sources. Machines took over from man in carrying out tasks. The increase in industries and new search for raw materials brought about industrial pollution of the water bodies as well as posing danger to the health of people with long-term fatal illnesses. At the same time these were happening, there was an agricultural drastic change that saw farmers yield more food for the expanded population and also give a more varied diet. They moved from using man power to use of the ox and then later to use of the horse due to its ability to work faster and longer than the ox. This was later advanced a little bit to the use of the padded collar horse since the plow used by the ox had not been improved to fit the horse. The horse would as a result hurt by chocking and this would hinder the level of work out put. The use of three-field rotation system for planting led to more land been put to use as compared to the two- field system and an increase in produce as well. The manufacture of the heavy plough made it possible for the heavy soils to be tilled effectively aided by the horse power. These farming communities raised children along with sufficient food to feed their families. This by itself brought a boom in the population growth. These grain surpluses also implied that there was more livestock breeding which freed the people to go to towns and do other tasks other than farming. These activities included blacksmiths, carpenters, cloth making, and millers among others. Contributing to prosperity at this time was the weather. It grew warmer at the time between 800-1200 AD, creating short-lived and milder winters throughout Europe. This warmer weather helped the crops to grow bigger and stronger. This drier season which they called the “little climatic optimum” helped to slow down the natural progression of the forests which by then covered the better part of the land. This made it easy to clear the forests and make ways for the plow, hence more land more agricultural produce. The general living standards of the people were greatly improved. The people of this time learned how to make use of a powerful force of the falling water. The mill converted water or wind onto work: grinding corn, crushing olives, furling cloth, tanning leather and making among other tasks. The water power also activated bellows for the flames that heated the vats in which beer was produced. There was also the use of steam engine to pump water out of mines. This water would be use for other purposes like watering the farms. The steam engine would raise minerals from the mines; provide heat for smelting iron ore and move machines in the textile mills as well. Organic fuel sources like the coal was used to produce high temperatures required to smelt iron. Later on, it also became a heat source for the steam engine. In the start of the Industrial Revolution, transport was by the means of navigable rivers and roads and the heavy goods were been moved the sea using coastal vessels. Animals supplied the motive power on land and the ships providing on the sea. Railways or wagon ways were the means of transporting coal to the rivers for further shipment. The transport infrastructure was improved by the industrial revolution with road network, waterway and canal network, and railway network. These improvements in transport system enabled raw materials and finished products to be moved faster and cheaper than initially. These improvements in the transport sector also easier and quick spread of new ideas. The period was dominated by poor labor conditions with people working long hours and at paces set by the machines. Long hours from dawn to night were the general working conditions. However, the harsh working conditions were prevalent even in the preindustrial era. Industrial revolution led to population increase but this did not in any way make the survival chances of childhood any better. Due to limited chances of education, these children were expected to work. They were subjected to similar work and working conditions as the adults, yet they were paid lesser than adults, basically 10-20% less than the adult male’s wage. Most of these children died in the work environments as they dosed off and were hit by the carts and others fell into mines, others were blinded in glass making and still others maimed as they slipped through the machineries to pick up cotton. Industrial revolution Britain The second industrial revolution which is the most acclaimed began in Britain. Britain led in this revolution as it pushed ahead of other economies aided by several factors. Among this was an enabling environment which was made possible by prolonged stability and peace, made possible by the unification of England and Scotland. Another benefit of this unification was the removal of trade barriers between Scotland and England. Other contributing factors to this revolution included respect for the rule of law and a free market. The availability of high quality coal which was an important provider of energy to drive the industries and extensive coastlines and navigable rivers were among the other key drivers of the revolution in Britain. Two main values; self-interest and entrepreneurial spirit moved the Britain’s industrial revolution. As a result of the interests several advances in industry were made and they brought about big increases in personal wealth. The advancements profited the whole British society as a whole. Britain became an example to other countries around the world that also began digging ways into their own industrial revolutions. Britain was in possession of key resources and this helped it to succeed in the industrial revolution. For its small geographical size it had a dense population and this made supply of labor for use in the agricultural revolution readily available. Local supplies of coal, iron, lead, copper, tin, and limestone and water power resulted in quality conditions for the establishments and expansions of industry. The mild and damp weather was a favorable condition for cotton spinning and this gave a beginning point for the birth of textiles industry. According to Horn et al. (2010) the preconditions for a fast growth in the industrial era included; accelerated sufficient capital accumulation, Control and access to raw material, Cheap or free labor and a political framework that facilitated innovation. Britain was competitive in the above factors compared to all other countries. Britain’s products were thus of better quality coupled with low prices. This phenomenon brought about by industrialized production caused an increase in the demand for goods from Britain in the foreign markets. The industrial revolution in Britain was propelled by technological inventiveness of the British society. The eighteenth century Britain was competent technologically; a great number of mechanics, engineers, millwrights, and tinkerers spent their time coming up with better machines or improved versions of pulleys, pendulums and pumps. Among the famous inventions that drove the British industrial revolution included; the atmospheric steam engine in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen and the subsequent improvements James Watt which improved its output and made it more applicable to many industries. The invention of the locomotive by Robert and George Stephenson 1825 opened up the country and improved transportation. John Macadam revolutionized road building while James Brindlesy build a canal helping to cut down coal transport cost, while iron was put to use in construction by Thomas Telford who build the first iron bridge. These inventions were just the notable among dozens of other inventions that occurred in Britain in this era. Rapid urbanization followed as a result of the growth of factories. Glasgow and Manchester which are industrial towns grew at high rates faster than the provision of amenities and services. Therefore a large number of people lived in dirty, overcrowded, dark tenements under unsanitary condition which led to high mortality rates. Some of the industrialists grew in riches and prominence while the status of the middle class improved as they earned better wages from the factories, which had replaced cottage industry. Conclusion In conclusion right from before the middle Ages and beyond there has been marked changes that sparked a revolution in industries. Though it was easily notable in the period of the British industrial revolution, there are earlier inventions and improvements in output that helped usher in the revolution as we know it. The Industrial revolution had great significance in economic history. It established Britain as the leading technological and economic nation of the world at the time, and hence helped the nation accrue all the political prestige and power that came with its economical prestige. The revolution also showed that economic growth could be sustained through industrialization. Before 1830 economic growth was periodic and uncertain but after this period it became a permanent feature of the economies that adopted the British model, which was to continually introduce new techniques in the production process. Though reliant on technology, the revolution cannot be solely attributed to increase in technology. It also relied on the boldness of inventors and capitalist, who willingly used the growth of understanding in physics, chemistry biology in industrial production. It relied on the capitalists who mobilized labor and capital at to build factories around these techniques. The consequences of industrial revolution were varied and wide spread affecting the social-cultural, political and fiscal aspects of the countries involved. As a result it is suffice to say that it set the base for modern economic growth and the great prosperity that accompanied it. References Corrick, J. (2000). The Industrial Revolution. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books. Goloboy, J. (2008). Industrial revolution people and perspectives. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC- CLIO. Horn, J., Rosenband, L. & Smith, M. (2010). Reconceptualizing the Industrial Revolution. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. Housel, D. (2007). Industrial Revolution. Huntington Beach: Shell Education. King, S. & Timmins, G. (2001). Making sense of the Industrial Revolution. Manchester UK New York New York: Manchester University Press Distributed exclusively in the USA by Palgrave. Moffit, L. (1925). England on the eve of the industrial revolution a study of economic and social conditions from 1740 to 1760 with special reference to Lancashire. London: P.S. King & Son Frank Cass and Co. Mokyr, J. (2001). The British industrial revolution: an economic perspective. Boulder, CO: West view Press. More, C. (2000). Understanding the industrial revolution. London New York: Routledge. Outman, J., Outman, E. & May, M. (2003). Industrial Revolution. Detroit: UXL. Pierce, A. (2005). The Industrial Revolution. Edina, Minn: Abdo Pub. Smith, N. (2009). The Industrial Revolution. London: Evans. Read More

New basic materials were introduced in this period, materials such as iron and steel. The use of new fuels in the blast furnaces helped in the smelting of iron ore. Charcoal was replaced by coke reduced costs of accessing forests to look for charcoal. Furnaces became more efficient as better machinery was used to push air to the blast furnaces. In 1785 Henry Cort created the paddling and rolling process which was one of the most epochal breakthroughs in helping turn pig iron to wrought iron (Goloboy, 2008).

In steelmaking Benjamin huntsman perfected crucible steel which was high quality and became popular the world over, it was further mass produced later in the nineteenth century. Increased production was spurred by the invention of new machines, such as the spinning jenny in 1767 and the power loom in 1787 resulting to lesser expenditure on human labor in their textile industry. Enormous progress was made in machine and instrument improvement, machines were made to be more accurate and efficient thus industries overhauled their old machinery and replaced them with more accurate and efficient machinery.

Another key technological feature of the industrial revolution was the development of the system of working; which entailed specialization of key functions and division of labor. The Factories also created much more output than the small cottage industries. Prior to the industrial revolution people worked from homes, adjoined workshops or fields. While factories helped increase output they also came with increased challenges which as they were solved, evolved to the modern practices of management.

Human resource management and concepts of standardization to ensure quality were products of ideas that solved the challenges that faced the factories. This period also saw new developments in transportation which included the invention of locomotives, the steamship, the automobile and the airplane. Better and faster transportation accessed manufacturers to raw materials cheaply. It also allowed helped in distribution of goods manufactured. Communication was also improved in this period, firstly because of better transportation networks and secondly because of inventions such as the telegraph and the radio.

The application of science to industry increased in this period scientist such as Joseph Black influenced the improvement on the Watt’s steam engine. In the same regard Charles Tennant and John Roebuck applied chemistry to use a lead chamber process to produce sulphuric acid cheaply and efficiently thus reducing the cost of bleaching inputs. Though the significance of the contribution of science in the industrial revolution is sometimes disputed, it helped greatly to improve inventions of inventors who did not have a scientific background.

Industrial revolution in the middle ages (3) The middle Ages were one of the most inventive eras of mankind. The then scientists and engineers were in a search for energy sources alternative to the hydraulic power, wind power and tidal energy. The period of time between the tenth and thirteenth centuries saw Western Europe experience a technological boom. This first industrial revolution was accompanied by some features like great increase in people’s population. This increase in population on the other hand led to massive movements of people.

The people emigrated; opened up and colonized new lands; they founded and built new towns. Favorable conditions helped in the growth of free enterprise. Capitalists companies whose shares were sold and bought were formed. The entrepreneurs indulged in ruthless means of doing business to conceal competition. There came up massive labor divisions to increase the efficiency and the enterprises called into being manual laborers whom they could exploit. The workers counterattacked with wage claims, absenteeism and strikes.

Energy consumptions increased greatly. The innovations of technology caused improvements in the efficiency of the available methods while leading to the search of new energy sources.

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