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The Industrial Revolution in World History
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.
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 1993
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365 people want to read
About the author
Peter N. Stearns
314 books33 followersPeter 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 10, 2019
Every hardened reader is faced with the quandary that reading of one text leads you into reading an associated text. I was with Malcolm and Bean’s ‘The Decline of English Feudalism, 1215-1540’ since last Saturday. A fair enough text it was, showcasing how the 14th century experienced a disastrous beg off in the echelon of the European population. Famines were legion all through the century. An extended period of imperfect diet in all probability increased the vulnerability of the populace to transmittable disease. Unquestionably the elements of the Black Death must have been influenced by the worsening of dietary averages. So catastrophic was the ascend in mortality, that the population of Europe appears to have been halved between 1315 and 1380. Furthermore, this was a calamity which persisted. Evidence suggests that the European economy experienced two full centuries of stagnation and decline. So on and so forth.
At that very jiffy, I was struck by the recollection that for over one and a half months, Peter N Stearns’ kindle version of ‘The Industrial Revolution in World History’ was apologetically parked at an uninhabited curve of my online book collection. And therein began the saga.
We all know who Peter Stearns is. To the casual reader this individual happens to be the author of ‘The Encyclopedia of World History’. To us retards, he happens to be the former Chair of the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon. ‘The Industrial Revolution in World History’ delineates the embodiment of industrialization in terms of technical expertise and economic organization.
What led England to surge ahead of other continental powers in the industrial orb up to the mid-19th century? England in the 18th century was in the most complimentary situation for an industrial revolution, due to a multiplicity of causes: through her overseas trade, plus trade in slaves. She had accumulated cosmic profits which could provide the obligatory capital. In the trade rivalries of European countries, she had emerged as an unparalleled power, acquiring colonies which ensured a habitual furnish of raw materials; after the departure of serfdom. Masses were no longer bound to the land and were free to do to any job they could find. The enclosure movement had begun in the 18th century. Big land-owners wanted combine their large land-holdings. In the self same progression, minor peasants, who had all holdings in land were expelled and an outsized army of landless unemployed people was created.
Thus, there was no shortage labour force to work in the factories; as a result of the revolution of the 17th century, a stable system of government had been established, which was no longer under the domination of the feudal classes. Commercial classes had acquired more political power and there was no danger of government interference; England had plenty of natural resources, such as iron and coal, essential for industries. The sources of iron and coal existed side by side and this saved England from many difficulties that other countries faced; England developed a large shipping industry and had no problem of transportation.
No other country enjoyed all these benefits at this period. Some suffered from a deficiency of capital or natural resources and some from a hostile political arrangement. These factors made England an accepted place for the Industrial Revolution to begin. Almost every other European countries had agrarian economies and lived under backward political systems. Many of them, such as Italy and Germany, were not even united and suffered from many economic restrictions.
The author has divided the book into sisteen chapters:
1. Britain's Revolution
2. New Causes
3. The Industrial Revolution in Western Society
4. The Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution
5. The Industrial Revolution Outside the West
Part Two The Second Phase, 1880--1950 The New International Cast
6. The Industrial Revolution Changes Stripes, 1880--1950
7. The Industrial Revolution in Russia
8. The Industrial Revolution in Japan
9. New Developments in Western Societies: A Second Revolution?
10. The Industrial Revolution in International Context Part Three The Third Phase, 1950s--2000s The Industrialization of the World
11. The Industrial Revolution in the Past Half Century
12. New Industrial Revolutions
13. The Less Industrial World
14. Postindustrial Societies and Global Balance
15. Global Industry and the Environment
16. Globalization and Global Industrial Societies 1880--1950 17
The author shows that political, economic and intellectual conditions would all contribute to Britain’s revolution in industry. But at the heart of the revolution was her use of energy. Coal was the fuel which kick-started the Industrial Revolution and Britain was very fortunate to have plenty that could be easily mined. Wood had been the main source of energy in Britain, used for fuel in homes and small industries. Coal was a much more potent form of power, providing up to three times more energy than wood. Britain had an advantage over other European countries because its mines were near the sea, so ships could carry coal cheaply to the most important market-London.
The first commercially successful steam engine was the atmospheric engine, invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712. His machine burnt tons of coal, so its location was limited to pitheads where coal was virtually free. But Britain now had seemingly inexhaustible quantities of cheap energy. Newcomer and other inventors benefitted from the intellectual climate. Britain was characterised by the free expression of new ideas. Over the previous 100 years, a cascade of scientific breakthroughs had swept across the country. There was a prolific exchange of scientific and technological ideas. And Britain, unlike many European countries, did not suffer censorship by Church or state. Men of action and men of ideas, industrialists and scientists often from very different backgrounds met to share their ideas and observations, in what was to be called the Industrial Enlightenment. They unleashed a wave of free thinking and creativity.
Britain also had the right political background for free market capitalism.
The system of parliamentary government that followed the Glorious Revolution of 1688-9 provided the background for stable investment and for a basis of taxation favourable to economic expansion. By the 18th Century the British parliament had won much greater independence from its monarch than any other European great power. Parliament passed the laws and controlled expenditure. This helped to guarantee political stability and that encouraged the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs as people set-up businesses and sought to make profit. France, by contrast, was home to some of the finest scientific minds, but had an absolute monarchy which wielded grand control over economic and political life. Political stability was underpinned by Britain's growing status as a world power. Naval power and imperial possessions enabled Britain to dictate trans-oceanic trade and to profit hence. Entrepreneurship was at the core of economic success in the colonies. Merchants could invest money and take profit as they wanted, with inadequate government intrusion.
The author in his afterword to the book prophetically avers: Britain's importance for world history rests on three elements: The Industrial Revolution, along with the imperial power and the development of political liberties which helped bring it about.
An exceptional read!!! I advocate it decidedly for students and researchers alike.
At that very jiffy, I was struck by the recollection that for over one and a half months, Peter N Stearns’ kindle version of ‘The Industrial Revolution in World History’ was apologetically parked at an uninhabited curve of my online book collection. And therein began the saga.
We all know who Peter Stearns is. To the casual reader this individual happens to be the author of ‘The Encyclopedia of World History’. To us retards, he happens to be the former Chair of the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon. ‘The Industrial Revolution in World History’ delineates the embodiment of industrialization in terms of technical expertise and economic organization.
What led England to surge ahead of other continental powers in the industrial orb up to the mid-19th century? England in the 18th century was in the most complimentary situation for an industrial revolution, due to a multiplicity of causes: through her overseas trade, plus trade in slaves. She had accumulated cosmic profits which could provide the obligatory capital. In the trade rivalries of European countries, she had emerged as an unparalleled power, acquiring colonies which ensured a habitual furnish of raw materials; after the departure of serfdom. Masses were no longer bound to the land and were free to do to any job they could find. The enclosure movement had begun in the 18th century. Big land-owners wanted combine their large land-holdings. In the self same progression, minor peasants, who had all holdings in land were expelled and an outsized army of landless unemployed people was created.
Thus, there was no shortage labour force to work in the factories; as a result of the revolution of the 17th century, a stable system of government had been established, which was no longer under the domination of the feudal classes. Commercial classes had acquired more political power and there was no danger of government interference; England had plenty of natural resources, such as iron and coal, essential for industries. The sources of iron and coal existed side by side and this saved England from many difficulties that other countries faced; England developed a large shipping industry and had no problem of transportation.
No other country enjoyed all these benefits at this period. Some suffered from a deficiency of capital or natural resources and some from a hostile political arrangement. These factors made England an accepted place for the Industrial Revolution to begin. Almost every other European countries had agrarian economies and lived under backward political systems. Many of them, such as Italy and Germany, were not even united and suffered from many economic restrictions.
The author has divided the book into sisteen chapters:
1. Britain's Revolution
2. New Causes
3. The Industrial Revolution in Western Society
4. The Social Impact of the Industrial Revolution
5. The Industrial Revolution Outside the West
Part Two The Second Phase, 1880--1950 The New International Cast
6. The Industrial Revolution Changes Stripes, 1880--1950
7. The Industrial Revolution in Russia
8. The Industrial Revolution in Japan
9. New Developments in Western Societies: A Second Revolution?
10. The Industrial Revolution in International Context Part Three The Third Phase, 1950s--2000s The Industrialization of the World
11. The Industrial Revolution in the Past Half Century
12. New Industrial Revolutions
13. The Less Industrial World
14. Postindustrial Societies and Global Balance
15. Global Industry and the Environment
16. Globalization and Global Industrial Societies 1880--1950 17
The author shows that political, economic and intellectual conditions would all contribute to Britain’s revolution in industry. But at the heart of the revolution was her use of energy. Coal was the fuel which kick-started the Industrial Revolution and Britain was very fortunate to have plenty that could be easily mined. Wood had been the main source of energy in Britain, used for fuel in homes and small industries. Coal was a much more potent form of power, providing up to three times more energy than wood. Britain had an advantage over other European countries because its mines were near the sea, so ships could carry coal cheaply to the most important market-London.
The first commercially successful steam engine was the atmospheric engine, invented by Thomas Newcomen in 1712. His machine burnt tons of coal, so its location was limited to pitheads where coal was virtually free. But Britain now had seemingly inexhaustible quantities of cheap energy. Newcomer and other inventors benefitted from the intellectual climate. Britain was characterised by the free expression of new ideas. Over the previous 100 years, a cascade of scientific breakthroughs had swept across the country. There was a prolific exchange of scientific and technological ideas. And Britain, unlike many European countries, did not suffer censorship by Church or state. Men of action and men of ideas, industrialists and scientists often from very different backgrounds met to share their ideas and observations, in what was to be called the Industrial Enlightenment. They unleashed a wave of free thinking and creativity.
Britain also had the right political background for free market capitalism.
The system of parliamentary government that followed the Glorious Revolution of 1688-9 provided the background for stable investment and for a basis of taxation favourable to economic expansion. By the 18th Century the British parliament had won much greater independence from its monarch than any other European great power. Parliament passed the laws and controlled expenditure. This helped to guarantee political stability and that encouraged the pursuit of scientific breakthroughs as people set-up businesses and sought to make profit. France, by contrast, was home to some of the finest scientific minds, but had an absolute monarchy which wielded grand control over economic and political life. Political stability was underpinned by Britain's growing status as a world power. Naval power and imperial possessions enabled Britain to dictate trans-oceanic trade and to profit hence. Entrepreneurship was at the core of economic success in the colonies. Merchants could invest money and take profit as they wanted, with inadequate government intrusion.
The author in his afterword to the book prophetically avers: Britain's importance for world history rests on three elements: The Industrial Revolution, along with the imperial power and the development of political liberties which helped bring it about.
An exceptional read!!! I advocate it decidedly for students and researchers alike.
October 17, 2020
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
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
December 13, 2021
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.
April 30, 2024
"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.
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June 3, 2022From 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.
May 29, 2019
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.
October 9, 2019
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.
July 20, 2025
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.
September 19, 2020
A little dry and repetitive but a good summary.
October 9, 2023
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
May be a bit of more editorial work would have made it easier to read
May 2, 2025
An anodyne survey of the Industrial Revolution, not particularly memorable but also not unreadable. The writing is serviceable, the conclusions predictable. Nothing special.
July 27, 2025
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.
September 9, 2023
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."
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."
September 29, 2014
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.
May 2, 2011
Fantastic read so far.
January 13, 2015
A quick read and very good text book on the Industrial Revolution. Enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews