* The shift from hand production methods to machine-based production.
* The development of new energy sources, such as steam power and coal, which enabled increased productivity and efficiency in factories.
* The growth of cities due to a rapid increase in population and the need for a large labor force.
* The development of new transportation methods, such as steamboats, canals, and railroads, which facilitated the transport of goods and people.
The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the late 18th century and then spread to other countries, such as France, the United States, and Germany. The period is considered to have ended with the outbreak of World War I in 1914.