From Iron, to Engines, to Travelling the World

Defined as “radically new or innovative; outside or beyond established procedure, principles, etc.” in Webster’s dictionary, the word ‘revolutionary’ sums up the Industrial Revolution which took place during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. In history class we recently studied some of these advancements. Broken up into groups, the class worked on analyzing some of the most important improvements and inventions made during this period of time. After class presentations and group discussions, two areas that stuck out as especially important are innovations in transportation and technology.

In the field of technology, one of the most revolutionary advancements was that of improved iron. Iron was starting to become a vital material, as it was used to help build many 18^th and 19^th century inventions, but there were a few problems with it. Darby discovered that coal had been giving off impurities damaging the iron that it was used to heat. To improve the quality of iron, he found a way to remove these impurities from coal. This advancement led to less expensive iron, which was vital, as so much of it was needed for the construction of other inventions, such as machines and steam engines.

The improvement of materials like iron thus led to that of new machinery used for transportation. Improved on by Watts in 1781, the steam engine was made of iron and used to power vehicles. In past years, train tracks had to be built along bodies of water so that trains could be pulled by barges. But when the steam engine became popular, it enabled transportation to take place almost anywhere. Crossing open country land became possible, allowing people to visit relatives, travel, move house, and spread news more quickly than in the past. With the invention of the steam engine, steam powered boats no longer depended on the weather. This allowed resources to be shipped more quickly between continents, and communication between countries to grow.

 

Watt's Steam Engine, http://www.cottontimes.co.uk/watto.htm

The Industrial Revolution wasn’t just about shiny new things or fancy machines; it helped broaden communication and transportation throughout the world. Advancements in technology, like higher quality and cheaper iron, led to the invention and improvement of the steam engine, which made transportation faster and easier.