MYP History Industrial Technologies and Mechanisation Notes

Industrial Technologies and Mechanization

1. Machines took over the hard work.
2. During the Industrial Revolution, humans went from doing everything by hand to letting waterwheels, steam engines, and later electricity do the heavy lifting.
3. Work became faster, cheaper, and way more productive, but it also pulled people into factories and reshaped whole cities.

How did new machines transform production?

Here’s what changed:

1. Massive increases in speed

1. Machines spun and wove yarn much faster than humans.
2. Factory output skyrocketed.

2. Huge rise in productivity

1. Factories produced goods in bulk (mass production).
2. Costs dropped → goods became cheaper → demand increased.

3. Standardized, uniform products

1. Factories created uniform quality.
2. This encouraged global trade.

4. Work moved from homes to factories

1. The cottage industry declined.