Industrial Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Industrial Revolution - Essay Example Since Britain is an island, it relied on maritime trade. As a slave and foreign trade put new demands on the movement of people and distribution of products, innovations in the shipping industry had to be brought in. This led to improvements in shipbuilding and the emergence of the ship repair industry. The technological advances that fueled these developments included the prologue of steam power and the use of steel and iron in building merchant ships. The result was safer, more reliable and faster sea travel beyond rivers into ocean voyages. Architectural and infrastructural changes included transport systems made up of expanded railways, improved roads, and iron bridges. Steam engines were also adopted in locomotives. Canals that connected industrial centers, trading centers, coalfields, and ports were also dug. For example, Liverpool and Manchester were linked by canals, promoting the textile industry in the early nineteenth century. By this time, the military production also pro moted the innovation and development of machine tools. For example, at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, a machine tool trainer known as Henry Maudslay trained tool makers in developing wooden machines used in boring cannons. He also developed and produced metal locks and later improved on the slide rest lathe that was used to cut machine screws. In conclusion, technological improvements and scientific innovations contributed towards the progression of agriculture, trade, shipping, economic expansion, and industry.