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Agricultural Revolution
Transition from traditional ways of farming to how we understand agriculture today. Included crop rotation and the use of enclosure to increase output. This meant that fields could be in use for longer and more effectively as there didn't need to be an idle period. Overall, it resulted in better use of the agricultural sect and an overall increase in the output for farming. -
Enclosure Movement
The Enclosure Movement was apart of the Agricultural Revolution, except this was the privatization of land. As land was given to individuals (usually wealthy) fences were placed around the plots to mark boundaries. Some of these can still be seen today, as shown in the photo, but the land was often unequally distributed to commoners. This required peasants to find new sectors of work as their traditional farming jobs were taken away. -
Formation of Great Britain
Through the joining of England to Scotland, a single kingdom known as Great Britain was established. This meant England became more powerful and more resourceful due to expanded territory and more treaties between nations. It also made Great Britain more powerful in the Atlantic Economy as they had more to offer in terms of resources. Finally, the combination allowed the nations to establish one of the strongest navies in the world for colonization defense, and trade. -
Flying Shuttle
Invented by John Kay, this machine allowed for faster weaving between two people. It allowed the weavers to throw the shuttle back and forth between threads using only one hand which sped up and simplified the process. Arguably, this was the most important invention for cottage industry workers because of its many uses. Its invention was also the first step towards automatic weaving as seen during later industrial advancements. -
Enclosure Act
Following the Enclosure Movement, the wealthy landowners went to Parliament to propose legislation that would increase their land size. The laws passed were apart of the Enclosure Act which granted all land to wealthy individuals who essentially controlled the government. By 1750, nearly 50% of all land in England was enclosed. This land included public land which meant peasants o longer had a place to raise livestock or crops. -
Protoindustrialization
Also known as the Cottage Industry, this was an industry that encouraged domestic creation of textile products. The movement, however, did not spread evenly throughout Europe as it began in England but struggled to go elsewhere. It wasn't until the mid-18th century that France began to see such industry when the government began to promote it in favor of increasing the riches land ownership. Movement of the industry to France then brought it to Germany and eventually the rest of Europe. -
Treaty of Paris
Ending the Seven Years War, this resulted in France losing most of its land in the New World and in India. Great Britain then gained these lands to add to their empire. This expanded British influence even more globally and allowed them to continue to build their economic strength. Britain then established colonies in these regions which created more allegiance to their empire, more resources, greater influence, and a stronger global presence. -
Britain defeats Mughal Empire
Britain struggled for a foothold in Asia until 1716 when the Mughals conceded their empire-wide trading privileges to the Europeans. Britain then moved in the British East India Company to make alliances or wage war against Indian princes in favor of colonial establishment. This was finalized when the Mughal emperor was finally defeated though left on the throne for the title. Overall, this gave Britain a huge advantage in Asian trading and colonization which they held in India until 1947. -
Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nation
Written by John Adams, this book established the basis for modern economics. Imploring ideas of free enterprise and the value of competition, Smith revolutionized systems of the economy which we still see to this day. He also criticized government control and believed the people should be given the most power. These ideas inspired modern capitalism through domestic reforms and protest against colonial monopolies. -
Atlantic Slave Trade
The 18th-century saw the height of the slave trade with it reaching its peak in the 1780s. Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and brought to the new world to labor on plantations. During its peak, and an average of 80,000 slaves were shipped across the Atlantic per year with an estimated 10 to 12 million total from the beginning of the slave trade until it was abolished. The trade was not abolished in Britain until 1807, though slaves already in the New World were still unprotected.
