The Industrial Revolution

Undergraduate / Graduate

Britain's Industrial Revolution is the most important event in human history after the invention of agriculture. It is also one of the most contested topics in history. Why was Britain the first country to industrialize? How did new industries like cotton textiles become so innovative? What role did empire and slavery play in shaping industrialization? Without assuming any prior knowledge of history, this lecture course introduces students to the debates about the Industrial Revolution from a global and comparative perspective. Major topics will include technology, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, labor, gender, consumption, finance, trade, empire and the state.