The Industrial Revolution

"The Industrial Revolution is the name historians have given to the period in history when there was a large and rapid change in the way things were made. This meant that instead of things being hand made in small workshops, they were made more cheaply in large quantities by machines in factories.

Many people began to move from an agricultural based life in the country to the towns where the factories offered more and better paid work."

- Wikipedia (Simple English)

The Industrial Revolution first occurred in England during the 1700's. Because of advancements in agricultural techniques, the English were able to produce an abundance of food. The additional food reserves allowed workers to spend time producing goods that were not survival necessities. Inventors found new techniques to produce fancier clothing and other goods at a quickened pace. As a result, a large industry grew to make textiles and cloth. Soon factories sprang up across England. Industrialization was taking root in England, which soon resulted in the accumulation of vast amounts of power and wealth. Industrialization caused nations to seek out new territories to fuel their factories with raw materials, thus giving rise to the Age of Imperialism.

The Agricultural Revolution in England during the 1700's produced vast amounts of additional food. By using enclosures, the English were able to divide lands to more effectively control crop growth. In addition, the English had several inventions which helped further the advancement of agricultural techniques. For example, the seed drill, invented by Jethro Tull, allowed farmers to plant seeds at an increased rate. Other inventions, such as the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, soon followed. The consequence for these improved agricultural techniques was the production of massive amounts of additional food stores. The average Englishman no longer needed to spend time acquiring food for survival. People were becoming free to pursue other activities with their time.

With a growing labor force, England's citizens began to move to the cities or urbanized areas for work in factories. Wages in the factories were enough so that workers could purchase their food, clothing, and shelter. Cities and factories grew at an astonishing rate. Soon smoke stacks, large shipping vessels, and big business became the routine in England.

What made England the first to industrialize? England had several factors which allowed it to take the lead in industrialization. First, England had an abundance of raw materials at home i.e. coal and timber. The English could use the coal as fuel and the timber as building material. Second, the English developed cultural and 

financial systems that promoted economic and industrial growth. Banking systems and a solid supply of recognized currency allowed for the fair valued trade which was lacking in other parts of the world. Finally, England had a natural transportation advantage. Multiple navigable rivers allowed the English to transport goods long distances by shipping. Trains were not invented yet, so shipping was the only method available for moving large quantities of goods to market.

Industrialization soon spread across Western Europe and to North America. These nations began to compete internationally for raw materials. Latin America, Asia, and Africa all became hunting grounds for the large and powerful industrialized nations. This era is called the Age of Imperialism or Colonization. Although the industrialized nations found success during this era, the colonized regions were typically mistreated and found little profit or benefit from the colonial arrangement.

Ancient Rome

Germanic Tribesmen Fighting Roman Soldiers in Central Europe

Ancient Rome was a civilization that flourished in the Mediterranean region approximately 450 years before Christ and continued for several hundreds of years after the Crucifixion of Christ. It was one of the most successful republics and empires in the history of the world. Its impact is found in many cultural and institutional organizations in the Western World today. The Ancient Romans contributed much to the modern world. For example, the use of a clearly written code of laws came from the Ancient Roman's "Twelve Tables." Furthermore, the Ancient Romans used democratic forms of government during the Republican Period. Government powers were separated and a Senate was created to maintain the day-to-day functions of the State. With the efficient use of the Democratic structure the Ancient Romans used their collective reasoning and military prowess to dominate the European world 2000 years ago. By building aqueducts and complex engineered roads the Ancient Romans maintained effective control over its extensive lands for hundreds of years. The spread of Christianity and constant barbaric invasions caused the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

After the conquering and assimilation of the Ancient Greeks, Rome embarked upon several periods characterized by differing political ideologies. Ancient Rome was originally ruled by Kings, thus making it an early monarchy. After the rise and fall of many rulers, Ancient Rome became a Republic. The Roman Republic separated its government powers and created a Senate. These reforms expanded the power of the citizenry making Ancient Rome a model for later governments around the world.

Around the time of Christ, Judea (modern day Israel / Palestine) was ruled by the Romans. Jesus Christ, a Jewish Carpenter, gathered a following of people. As a religious leader Jesus' influence grew over peoples of Judea began to worry the ruling Romans. As a result, Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. The crucifixion of Christ by the Ancient Romans solidified the Christian following thus creating the world's largest religion. Some historians even argue that the spread of Christianity was the main force behind the decline of the Roman Empire.

Roman Republic

After the dissolution of the Roman Republic, Rome became an Empire. The Roman Empire was ruled by a an autocracy or government where power is concentrated in an individual's hands. Even though the Roman Empire did not utilize the Senate and other Republican ideologies it did enjoy success for hundreds of years. Eventually however, the Roman empire became unstable and eventually disintegrated leaving fractured pieces of its rule all over Europe and western Asia.

Roman Soldiers

Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece was a highly successful civilization that existed around the Mediterranean Sea centuries before the birth of Christ. This civilization has influenced modern governments, 2,000 years later, similar to the one which is used here in the United States. A democratic government relies on its people or citizens to vote and participate in politics. In other words, the people control the government through the use of representatives and through the use of a vote. To better understand our democratic roots it is important to start with historical developments in Ancient Greece - the first civilization to use a democratic style government.

Ancient Greece existed from approximately 750 years B.C. (Before Christ) and was conquered and assimilated into Ancient Rome at 146 B.C. During the 600 years that Ancient Greece existed there were 3 major periods. Historians divide the three periods into Archaic Greece, Classical Greece, and Hellenistic Greece.

Archaic Greece was a period that saw the beginnings of Ancient Greek culture. Classical philosophy, art, mythology, and academics find their roots in this time period. Furthermore, the rise of the Ancient Greek city states, called a Polis, similarly have their foundations during this period. The many Greek cities during this time were not politically united, which as a consequence, caused many distressed persons to move to neighboring lands to form colonies. This resulted in the spread of the basic Archaic Greek culture across the Aegean Sea.

Classical Greece was a period which most heavily influenced the modern western world. More specifically, Classical Greek art, government, science, philosophy and architecture is found throughout modern countries such as the United States, England, France, and Germany. The framers of the United States Constitution were well versed in the works and deeds of Cleisthenes, Solon, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Homer, Herodotus, and many other famous Ancient Greek scholars. It is a miracle of World History that the cultural themes found in Classical Greece, several hundred years before the birth of Christ, are found in today's western democratic governments 2,000 years later.

Classical Greece reached its height with the conquests of Alexander the Great. Alexander, a military ruler from Macedonia, spread Greek culture across the Persian Empire (modern-day Iran) into northern India and as far north as some of today's central Asian Republics. Furthermore, Alexander's conquests also ranged throughout the Mediterranean Sea region. One of the most famous conquerors in the history of the world, Alexander III of Macedon left the Classical Greek legacy across much of Asia, North Africa, and Europe.

After Alexander the Great Ancient Greece entered the Hellenistic Period. This era witnessed the decline of centralized Greek authority and allowed the slow transition into a time when the Ancient Romans would conquer and assimilate the Greeks. Although defeated by the Ancient Romans, Greek culture continued to thrive throughout the Ancient Roman period. The Ancient Romans utilized much of what the Greeks learned, so much so, that even the Roman Gods were copies of the Gods of the Ancient Greeks. 

Introduction to European Geography

European history has had the largest impact on the western world to date. Much of our everyday lives owe themselves to the events and history which occurred throughout Europe over the past 2,500 years. Students must gain a basic understanding of the nations of Europe before proceeding to lessons relating to the history of Europe.

1. Germany

2. France

3. Spain

4. Portugal

5. Italy

6. Greece

7. Poland

8. Turkey

9. Russia (Soviet Union)

10. England / Britain / U.K.

Europe is a continent made up of many peninsulas. The Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and 2 Straits have created a highly strategic region on Earth. Many European cultures used water ways to trade products and ideas. Religion, science, architecture, government, language, art, military technology and et cetera were all part of a continental melting pot of human activity found in Europe.
1. Thames River
2. Rhine River
3. Vistula River
4. Danube River
5. North Sea
6. English Channel
7. Mediterranean Sea
8. Black Sea
9. Adriatic Sea
10. Aegean Sea
A. Strait of Gibraltar
B. Bosporus Strait