development of manufacturing. (b) Though a later entrant to the race in establishing colonies overseas, Britain gained supremacy over a period of time. It defeated the European powers such as Spain, Portugal, and France. In the beginning of the 18th century, Britain had colonies in one fourth of the world and ruled over % of the world population in Africa, America and Asia.
So there was a growing demand for industrial products from these Empire colonies. (c) The markets at home were also expanding as the population grew. In England, population rose from four million in to six million in and nine million by the end of the eighteenth century. (d) The drain of wealth to England from various colonies, notably from India, provided the capital necessary for investment in industries.
(e) Compared to other European countries, Britain was more liberal. Political stability also provided objective conditions for industrial development. (f) The availability of coal and iron deposits in large quantities in England was another contributory factor. By , Britain was producing ten million tons of coal, or % of the world’s output (g) Before the industrial revolution, Britain registered rapid agricultural growth.
More lands were brought under cultivation through mechanisation. Small land holdings were consolidated into larger enclosures under the control of wealthy private landowners and the method of crop rotation along with the new farming techniques yielded more produce. But it also caused unemployment among the agricultural labourers. Pauparised peasants moved to the cities and became the workforce for various factories from the mid eighteenth century.
(h) The British had well established ports all across the coast which enabled easy internal and external trade. (i) The geographical location of England, slightly away from the mainland and relatively safe from foreign invasions, was another cause for industrial revolution (j) Finally the temperate climate of the British isles was favourable for the manufacturing of cotton cloth. Important Inventions during Industrial Revolution The factory System: Before the industrial revolution, production took place in small workshops or in the cottages of the workers. Potters, wheel makers, cart makers, spinners and