The Industrial Revolution is a historical period, which brought changes in agriculture, manufacturing, technology and communication in nineteenth century England. This process came after the Agricultural Revolution.

At the end of the 18th century, Britain was a rural society but the application of technology to farming methods caused a revolution in this field. Lots of farmers moved to town from countryside looking for a job: this decline in the agricultural population and the subsequent growth of cities led to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

The most important factors which facilitated the industrial transformation of Britain were innovations in iron and textile industry and improvement of means of communications. Regarding mechanical inventions in textile and iron industry there were the spinning-jenny patented by Hargreaves, the water-frame invented by Arkwright, Crompton's mule and the self-acting; but the most important without any doubt were the steam engine patented by James Watt and the power-loom. The growth of the factory system also determined an improvement of means of communication, in fact the canal system was being rapidly developed throughout the country, the road was greatly improved and came the first railroad. Results of these chief improvements were the extraordinary increase in commerce and the substitution of factory system for domestic system.

Some historians think that this age has only positive aspects, while other experts have a critical view of the Industrial Revolution. On one hand extraordinary increase in commerce, improvements and decrease in mortality rate were certainly positive aspects but on the other hand rise of prices, especially the high price of bread, class conflicts and disadvantages of the labourer were big problems for the society

During the Industrial Revolution, British people witnessed the triumph of a middle class of industrialists and businessmen over a class of nobility and gentry. Workers, forced to work hours upon hours, became increasingly poor. Living conditions varied from the richness of the homes of the middle class to the squalor of the houses of the workers. Poor people lived in very small houses, that had open sewers and would be at risk of developing diseases. To sum up revolutions may produce wealth but not well-being.