Glossary
Decline of Traditional Manufacturing
The process by which local, artisanal production methods and industries in non-industrialized regions struggled and diminished due to competition from cheaper, mass-produced goods from industrialized nations.
Example:
Indian textile producers experienced a significant Decline of Traditional Manufacturing as British factory-made cotton goods flooded the market, undercutting local weavers.
Defensive Modernization
A strategy adopted by some nations, like Japan, to rapidly industrialize and adopt Western technologies and institutions to protect their sovereignty and cultural traditions from foreign encroachment.
Example:
Japan's Meiji Restoration initiated a period of Defensive Modernization, rapidly building factories and a modern military to avoid the fate of China, which was carved into spheres of influence.
Economic Dominance Shift
The fundamental change in global economic power, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, from East Asian economies to Western Europe and the United States.
Example:
The Economic Dominance Shift meant that by the late 19th century, European and American industrial output far surpassed that of traditional manufacturing centers like China and India.
Fossil Fuel Energy
Energy derived from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which became the primary power source for industrial machinery and transportation during the Industrial Revolution.
Example:
The abundant supply of coal in Great Britain was crucial for powering its early factories and steam engines, demonstrating the importance of Fossil Fuel Energy in industrialization.
France (Industrialization)
Industrialization in France was delayed compared to Britain, focusing on textile and metal production, often with a more gradual pace and less reliance on large-scale factory systems initially.
Example:
Post-Napoleonic Wars, France slowly built its industrial base, with significant growth in areas like Lyon for silk production and the Lorraine region for iron.
Germany (Industrialization)
Germany's industrialization surged after its unification in 1871, becoming a major power in coal and steel production, driven by state support and technological innovation.
Example:
The rapid growth of the Ruhr Valley's coal and steel industries after 1871 propelled Germany to become a leading industrial competitor to Britain.
Industrialization
The process of a society transforming from an agrarian and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing.
Example:
Great Britain's early adoption of textile factories and steam engines marked the beginning of global Industrialization.
Japan (Industrialization)
Japan's industrialization was a rapid, state-sponsored 'defensive modernization' aimed at preserving sovereignty, characterized by quick adoption of Western technologies and a focus on education.
Example:
The Meiji government actively sent students abroad to learn Western industrial techniques, enabling Japan to quickly build modern factories and a powerful navy.
Russia (Industrialization)
Russia's industrialization was primarily state-driven, characterized by massive infrastructure projects like the Trans-Siberian Railroad and later accelerated under communist rule.
Example:
Unlike Western European nations, the Tsarist government directly funded and managed many industrial projects in Russia, rather than relying solely on private enterprise.
Steam Power
The use of steam engines, powered by burning fossil fuels like coal, to drive machinery, locomotives, and ships, revolutionizing production and transportation.
Example:
The invention of the improved Steam Power by James Watt allowed factories to be built anywhere, not just near rivers, fundamentally changing industrial location.
Technological Diffusion
The spread of new technologies, inventions, and innovations from their point of origin to other regions or societies.
Example:
The spread of the spinning jenny from Britain to other European countries is an example of Technological Diffusion in the textile industry.
Trans-Siberian Railroad
A massive infrastructure project undertaken by the Russian government to connect European Russia with the Pacific, facilitating trade and industrial development.
Example:
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railroad allowed Russia to transport raw materials and goods across its vast territory, boosting its industrial capacity.
United States (Industrialization)
The United States experienced rapid industrial growth by the late 19th century, fueled by a large immigrant labor force, abundant natural resources, and a focus on the northeastern states.
Example:
The influx of Irish and German immigrants provided a vast labor pool for the burgeoning textile mills and factories in the United States Northeast.