什麼是工業革命

指從農業和手工業經濟轉變到以工業和機器製造業爲主的經濟的過程。始於18世紀的英國。技術上的改變包括了鋼鐵、新能源的使用，發明新機器以提高產量（包括珍妮紡紗機），工廠體系的發展，運輸及通訊重要的發展（包括蒸汽機和電報）。其他的改變還有︰農業上的改進，財富廣泛的分配和政治變化反映出經濟力量的轉變，並造成激烈的社會變化。1760～1830年期間，工業革命大體上僅發生在英國；後傳到比利時和法國。其他國家則延遲許久才發生，但德國、美國和日本一旦開始工業革命，其得到的成就遠超過英國內部的成功。東歐國家遲至20世紀纔開始，且至20世紀中期工業革命才傳播到中國和印度。許多分析證據指出，20世紀晚期發生第二次工業革命，或稱新工業革命，即新物質和新能源的利用、自動化工廠、生產工具所有制和自由放任主義管理的轉變。

Industrial Revolution

Process of change from an agrarian, handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacture. It began in England in the 18th century. Technological changes included the use of iron and steel, new energy sources, invention of new machines that increased production (including the spinning jenny), development of the factory system, and important developments in transportation and communication (including the steam engine and telegraph). Other changes included agricultural improvements, a wider distribution of wealth, political changes reflecting the shift in economic power, and sweeping social changes. The Industrial Revolution was largely confined to Britain from 1760 to 1830, then spread to Belgium and France. Other nations lagged behind, but once Germany, the U.S., and Japan achieved industrial power they outstripped Britain's initial successes. Eastern European countries lagged into the 20th century, and not until the mid-20th century did the Industrial Revolution spread to such countries as China and India. Many analysts saw evidence of a second, or new, industrial revolution in the later 20th century, with the use of new materials and energy sources, automated factories, new ownership of the means of production, and a shift away from laissez-faire government.