The Industrial Revolution in World History

by Peter N. Stearns

The industrial revolution is generally recognized as a major development in world history. Even so, the study of it is routinely handled as simply part of Western European history or as part of individual national histories. Peter N. Stearns offers a genuinely world-historical approach, looking at the international factors that touched off the industrial revolution and at its global spread and impact. In this revised third edition, The Industrial Revolution in World History begins with an examination of industrialization in the West, but it also treats later cases in other societies-including Japan, Russia, and the United States, as well as newly revised sections on Asia and Latin America-providing the comparative analysis usually lacking in single-nation treatments. Although the text defines the essence of industrialization in terms of technology and economic organization, it pays substantial attention to larger social results, especially changes in the experience of work and shifts in family functions and gender roles. Including a new chapter on global environmental impact, The Industrial Revolution in World History seeks to build on recent scholarly advances to include a more fully international and human perspective in our understanding of the industrial revolution. The third edition also features fully revised sections on globalization, causation, and non-Western societies, further strengthening Stearns' discussion of complex industrial and international trends.

Genres: History, World History, Nonfiction, Economics, Cultural, Politics, War

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 1993

About the author

Peter Nathaniel Stearns is a professor at George Mason University, where he was provost from January 1, 2000 to July 2014.
Stearns was chair of the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University and also served as the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (now named Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences) at Carnegie Mellon University. In addition, he founded and edited the Journal of Social History. While at Carnegie Mellon, he developed a pioneering approach to teaching World History, and has contributed to the field as well through editing, and contributing to, the Routledge series, Themes in World History. He is also known for various work on the nature and impact of the industrial revolution and for exploration of new topics, particularly in the history of emotions.
He is active in historical groups such as the American Historical Association, the Society for French Historical Studies, the Social Science History Association and the International Society for Research on Emotion.

Reviews

[Richard Subber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wide ranging, reflective, and penetrating exploration of what you think you know as The Industrial Revolution.
Except, you don’t know enough about the industrial revolution, and you may not be aware that it’s still a work in progress.
I risk simplicity by paraphrasing Stearns’ definition of the industrial revolution: humans discovered vastly more potent sources of power (coal, steam, electricity, nuclear, solar) and changed the structure of social and workplace interactions to create factories and a consumer economy and globalized manufacturing and commerce.
Stearns is by no means a great big fan of the industrial revolution.
The Industrial Revolution in World History makes it clear that it’s not a stretch to say that the continuing industrial revolution is the material cause of the catastrophic global climate change that is rapidly destroying our livable planet.
Furthermore, the industrial revolution has made a lot of work emotionally unappealing to a lot of people. “…desperately hard work and scant reward constituted key ingredients in the early industrialization process in Britain.” (p35).
In the latter part of the 19th century, “much U.S. opinion remained committed to a rhetoric of free enterprise even as big business grew and the government actively contributed to industrial expansion not only through grants of land but also through high protective tariffs.” (pp63,65)
In the United States, “the world’s first large political democracy ironically pioneered in rigid workplace hierarchies, building on the implications of the factory system to create greater management control.” (p66)
In the current era, “the scale of economic organization, thanks to the international expansion of industrialization, exceeded that of political authority.” (p284) “…international business organizations and international industrial problems (have) outstripped the scale of national politics and culture.” (p289)
That is, in simple language, global corporations are in control of our lives.
The human beings who run the biggest corporations are riding a tiger that is beyond their control.

Read more of my book reviews and poems here:
www.richardsubber.com

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

From noted historian Peter N. Stearns, a concise, accessible examination of the industrial revolution through the twenty-first century, investigating the cause and effect of this global phenomenon. By exploring the ways the industrial revolution reshaped world history, this book offers a unique look into the international factors that started the industrial revolution and its global spread and impact. It was an extremely interesting book that gave me a lot of insight as to how global the industrial revolution was, and how recently it occurred. I highly recommend this to anyone fascinated in knowing how this event changed the human species forever.

[Ahmet Karaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Industrial Revolution in World History" by Peter Stearns is an enlightening read that offers valuable insights into the origins and impact of the industrial revolution. Stearns skillfully elucidates the key factors behind why the industrial revolution unfolded in England and not in other regions like Asia. This book provides a clear understanding of the fundamental reasons driving industrialization and its global consequences. Moreover, Stearns' exploration of 19th and 20th-century workers' movements and labor relationships adds depth to our understanding of contemporary history. Overall, even this book is not a must-read ,its a light and enhoyful read for anyone interested in comprehending the complex dynamics of industrialization and its enduring influence on the modern world.

[Isaac]

From noted historian Peter N. Stearns, a concise, accessible examination of the industrial revolution through the twenty-first century, investigating the cause and effect of this global phenomenon. By exploring the ways the industrial revolution reshaped world history, this book offers a unique look into the international factors that started the industrial revolution and its global spread and impact. It was an extremely interesting book that gave me a lot of insight as to how global the industrial revolution was, and how recently it occurred. I highly recommend this to anyone fascinated by knowing how this event changed the human species forever.

[Hugolane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This offers a valuable survey of the Industrial Revolution as an ongoing global phenomenon. It treats it as a serious of waves noting how each successive wave of industrializing states adapt to the situation at the time. Along the way he also discusses the huge social transformations that industrialization brought. Politics, beyond efforts to industrialize, are further in the background.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad place to start to learn about the industrial revolution in global context. Stearns did well to not overburden the book with to much complexity. The chapters are well arranged to be able to follow his narrative. A main section on industrialization from the 1950s to 2000s is a big plus. The lack of footnotes is a negative.

[Aygul A. Baghirova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially liked how Stearns moved beyond Eurocentric narration and also did not only focus on machines and factories but also explained the impact it had on gender roles, urbanisation, and other social formations. The writing is academic but readable and does not burden with too much detail.

[Kubilay Pakin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dry and repetitive but a good summary.

[Derya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Targets general reader and gives a good summary of a massive topic
May be a bit of more editorial work would have made it easier to read

[James S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anodyne survey of the Industrial Revolution, not particularly memorable but also not unreadable. The writing is serviceable, the conclusions predictable. Nothing special.

[Kate Schwarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the origins and effects/consequences of the Industrial Revolution--both the immediate effects and consequences and the ones that continue to happen today.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not just a book about what happened hundreds of years ago in Europe. It starts in western Europe in the 1770's but the story continues around the world until 2020 when the book was written!

You can read about what the mining in Brazil during the 18th century and later the growing of coffee and sugar, has led to for the people who live in the area.

"It became virtually impossible to restore the forests because of the degradation of the soil, and hundreds of plants and animal species were eliminated in the process. Over 20,000 square miles of forest were cleared in the nineteenth century alone, because the wood was essential for fuel in sugar processing and as the source of railway crossties. By the twentieth century, people in the region began noticing apparent regional climate changes, toward drier, hotter seasons, presumably as a result of the ecological transformation."

[Anthony Zupancic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broad strokes history here. It's quick and easy to read. Sections get repetitive. Stearns breaks modern history into 3 waves of the industrial revolution. Many of his arguments are convincing, but this is an intro texts and lacks many references or any reference to secondary literature.

[Barbara Skuplik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read so far.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read and very good text book on the Industrial Revolution. Enjoy!