Was it a lack of manpower? Was it geographic circumstances? Why couldn’t civilizations like, say, Babylon or Rome have an Industrial Revolution?
In: 448
Best argument I’ve heard is population: China had everything they needed for an industrial revolution for hundreds of years prior to the UK doing it except a low population whete workers could demand high wages. The UK did, however and thus some enterprising engineer built a steam pump that did the work of 20 men but for the price of 19 men. After that, efficiencies and innovation snowballed until we had to rethink how society was structured.
Latest Answers