Coal, Steam, and The Industrial Revolution: Crash Course World History #32

In which John Green wraps up revolutions month with what is arguably the most revolutionary of modern revolutions, the Industrial Revolution. While very few leaders were beheaded in the course of this one, it changed the lives of more people more dramatically than any of the political revolutions we've discussed. So, why did the Industrial Revolution happen around 1750 in the United Kingdom? Coal. Easily accessible coal, it turns out. All this, plus you'll finally learn the difference between James Watt and Thomas Newcomen, and will never again be caught telling people that your blender has a 900 Newcomen motor.

Chapters:
Introduction: The Industrial Revolution 00:00
What Was the Industrial Revolution? 1:48
Innovations in the British Textile Industry 2:38
Why did the Industrial Revolution start in Europe? 4:08
An Open Letter to the Steam Engine 4:57
What was going on in China during the Industrial Revolution? 5:35
European Advantages: High Wages and Low Fuel Costs 7:03
What was going on in India during the Industrial Revolution? 9:28
Credits 10:29

Learn more about the Industrial Revolution in these Crash Course videos:

Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[aylacastolo]

Views:
5% - Bored People
5% - History Addicts
90% - People cramming for an exam

[autophaqy]

who else is watching this while quarantined in your home for an online class assignment?

[EmilyKardum]

my teacher played this in history today and I was so happy when he told us that we'll be watching more episodes later on, it's amazing how much better school is when john green is involved

[mikhail]

Who else had to watch this as a class assignment?

[millionsubswithonlyvideo]

Teacher: Explains Industrial Revolution in over 6 weeks
Me: ... i still don't get it
Me: Finds this video
Me: yeah, i get it now

Also me: Fails the Test

[andreasantos]

since we're all here because of online classes, y'all got the answers?

[mergieismoronic]

You exist?





*I N D U S T R I A L R E V O L U T I O N*

[kareldolezel]

The second half of the video is very simplistic.

Firstly, Europe had a long history of mechanized production way before the steam engine and "cheap coal". Water powered and mechanized mills appeared in Europe as back as the 12th century. And there were aspects of industrialism way before the industrial revolution.

For examle, let´s look at paper. Although invented in China in 105 AD, it was always a small production artisan process to make it. It´s only when it came to Europe that we first see economies of scale and mechanization. The first paper mill dates to 1276 Italy.

When Johannes Gutenberg invented his printing press in 1440, it was a matter of entrepreneurialism, not just individual genius or "making inventions". He studied in a university, traveled to Strasbourg, made a business deal with merchants who provided him with venture capital for the development. Which he then used to assemble a team of artisans, who provided several years of engineering and inventions of their own to make it happen. Trying to beat the competition breathing on their back... And of course, the only reason the printing press was ever useful was because by that time paper was produced in giant mills, where cloth rags were beaten to a paper pulp by water powered hammers.
The printing press then fueled Renaissance and education, wich fueled inovation and so on.

You mentioned how the textile industry started it all, but the "flying shuttle" was invented by John Kay in 1733 and the "spinning jenny" was invented by James Hargreaves in 1764. The first textile factory of Comford Mill was built by Richard Arkwright in 1772 and was powered by water wheel.
So by the time James Watt invented his steam engine in 1778, to make it´s impact, the industrial revolution already begun.

[taylorluvstrack]

I'm upset that it took me halfway through my sophomore year to discover Crash Course. Thank you, John Green and the whole staff, not only helping me understand topics as a whole, but making me much more curious to learn more and get interested in the subject. My history textbook just doesn't have the same effect, needless to say. 

[inportantspeedflash]

You blink






* I N D U S T R I A L R E V O L U T I O N*

[cece]

no one:
john green: *I N D U S T R I A L R E V O L U T I O N*

[idkdude]

Take a shot everytime he says industrial revolution

[moomoomachines]

6:33 R.I.P. Flowers. You will forever be remembered.

[WillaDaKilla]

I half expected that when he ended the ramblings about how everything in our lives was due to the industrial revolution, he would say "unless you're the Mongols."

[JessWeng]

I worship to your videos before an exam

[tigrang]

People watching this:
5%- history addicts
95%- people forced to for online school

[pathetically]

how did i just find out that this dude wrote The Fault in Our Stars

[joshuadarrow]

This is probably the best web series i have ever seen, history is a very under-appreciated subject.

[artywolve]

I feel like there was a lot here about the outcome and not much about the process... The industrial revolution completely reformed British society, as people gathered from the countryside to form huge cities in order to work in factories. This sudden and unprecedented change came with all sorts of problems, and working conditions were horrendous, but the new working order and lowered costs of mass produced items like bread and clothes, along with their newly available education, gave former peasants the chance to rise and create the middle class. The railway network that drastically altered Europe paved the wartime supply lines, while steamboats improved cross-atlantic trade: things which had great impact on the people's way of life.

Those dense industrial cities still exist, although their trade wealth is gone, factories replaced by offices; the clustered red brick houses still stand; the canals run between them; Ireland still makes expensive linen, and until the 80s Wales still mined coal. Even the co-operative is still running banks, supermarkets and funeral care.

[derpygrenade]

Teacher: 11 minutes till the test




Me: