History (Evolution) of Modern Civilization
First Industrial Revolution
In the 16th and 17th century western Europe experienced a massive increase in agricultural productivity known as Agricultural Revolution, which freed up a significant percentage of the workforce, and thereby helped drive the Industrial Revolution. Before The Civil War (1861-66) America too was primarily a agricultural society of farmers and intensive cultivation methods led to surplus man power.
For the new manpower, there was apparently no need to dedicate to agriculture because the higher productivity resulted from mechanized farming allowed a single peasant to feed a bigger number of otherwise employed workers. On the other hands, new agriculture techniques raised the demand for machines and other hardware, traditionally provided by the urban artisans who then employed rural exodus' workers to increase their output and meet the country's needs. The growth of their business led to rationalization and standardization of the duties in the workshops, thus leading to division of work. The process of creating a product was divided into simple tasks, each one of them being gradually mechanized in order to boost the productivity, therefore the income. The accumulation of capital allowed investments in the conception and application of new technologies, enabling the industrialization process to roll-on and self-sustain.
For the new manpower, there was apparently no need to dedicate to agriculture because the higher productivity resulted from mechanized farming allowed a single peasant to feed a bigger number of otherwise employed workers. On the other hands, new agriculture techniques raised the demand for machines and other hardware, traditionally provided by the urban artisans who then employed rural exodus' workers to increase their output and meet the country's needs. The growth of their business led to rationalization and standardization of the duties in the workshops, thus leading to division of work. The process of creating a product was divided into simple tasks, each one of them being gradually mechanized in order to boost the productivity, therefore the income. The accumulation of capital allowed investments in the conception and application of new technologies, enabling the industrialization process to roll-on and self-sustain.
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The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from great courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependency back again to bondage and into oblivion. |
In this way, industrialization started with the mechanisation of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Once started, it spread. Trade expansion was enabled by the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. The introduction of steam power (fuelled primarily by coal) and powered machinery (mainly in textile manufacturing) underpinned the dramatic increases in production capacity. The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century facilitated the manufacture of more production machines for manufacturing in other industries. The effects spread throughout Western Europe and North America during the 19th century, eventually affecting most of the world. The impact of this change on society was enormous.
Thus was laid the foundation for the first industrial revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries in western Europe.
The mechanization of production spread to the countries in western and northern Europe and to British colonies, making those areas the wealthiest since, and shaping what is now known as the Western world.
The first Industrial Revolution merged into the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, railways, and later in the nineteenth century with the internal combustion engine and electrical power generation.
Thus was laid the foundation for the first industrial revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries in western Europe.
The mechanization of production spread to the countries in western and northern Europe and to British colonies, making those areas the wealthiest since, and shaping what is now known as the Western world.
The first Industrial Revolution merged into the Second Industrial Revolution around 1850, when technological and economic progress gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, railways, and later in the nineteenth century with the internal combustion engine and electrical power generation.
Second Industrial Revolution
The Second Industrial Revolution denotes somewhat less dramatic changes which came about with the widespread availability of electric power, the internal-combustion engine and assembly lines. The Second Industrial Revolution saw the rise of various industrial powers such as Germany and the USA.
Several developments within the chemical, electrical, petroleum, and steel industries took place. Mass production of consumer goods also developed at this time, for the mechanization of manufacture of food and drink, clothing and transport and even entertainment with the early cinema, radio and gramophone both served the needs of the population and also provided employment for the increasing numbers. This increasing production, however, was a factor leading up to the Long Depression and ‘new Imperialism’.
The second industrial revolution refers to the second phase of industrialization, since from a technological and a social point of view there is no clear break between the two. Indeed, it might be argued that it stems from the middle of the nineteenth century with the growth of railways and steam ships.
In the United States of America the Second Industrial Revolution is commonly associated with electrification and scientific management systems. Inventions and their applications were much more diffuse in this phase of revolution. This period saw the growth of machine tools in America capable of making precision parts for use in other machines. It also saw the introduction of the assembly line for the production of consumer goods.
Several developments within the chemical, electrical, petroleum, and steel industries took place. Mass production of consumer goods also developed at this time, for the mechanization of manufacture of food and drink, clothing and transport and even entertainment with the early cinema, radio and gramophone both served the needs of the population and also provided employment for the increasing numbers. This increasing production, however, was a factor leading up to the Long Depression and ‘new Imperialism’.
The second industrial revolution refers to the second phase of industrialization, since from a technological and a social point of view there is no clear break between the two. Indeed, it might be argued that it stems from the middle of the nineteenth century with the growth of railways and steam ships.
In the United States of America the Second Industrial Revolution is commonly associated with electrification and scientific management systems. Inventions and their applications were much more diffuse in this phase of revolution. This period saw the growth of machine tools in America capable of making precision parts for use in other machines. It also saw the introduction of the assembly line for the production of consumer goods.
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You are working so hard and the end should not be simply sense gratification. Sense gratification you can get in hog society, dog society, without any, I mean to say, extra qualification. That is... Visayah khalu sarvatah syat. Visaya means this sense gratificatory business, you will have in any life. In bird's life, in dog's life, in cat's life. So do you think that human life is also meant for that purpose? Then what is the meaning of civilization? Is that civilization? If the end of life is the same, just like cats and dogs, is it civilization? They do not know what is civilization. |
Salient Developments
Communication
One of the most crucial inventions for the communication of technical ideas in this period was the steam-powered rotary printing press from the previous decades of the revolution. This in turn had been developed as the result of the invention of the paper-making machine by Henry Fourdrinier at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The second industrial revolution also saw the introduction of mechanical typesetting with the Linotype and the Monotype. This encouraged the growth of journalism and periodicals by cheapening production costs.
Engines
The steam engine was developed during the 18th century and became popular in Europe and the rest of the world during the 19th century. Later internal-combustion engine appeared in several industrialized countries.
The internal-combustion engine was tried out as a motive force for primitive automobiles in France in the 1870s, but it never was produced in quantity. It was Gottlieb Daimler of Germany who really exploited the breakthrough of using petroleum instead of coal gas as a fuel, for the automobile a few years later. Then it was Henry Ford of the United States who, still later, made the internal combustion engine a mass market phenomenon with a tremendous effect on society. The two stroke petrol engine was initially invented by the British engineer Joseph Day of Bath, who later licensed it to American entrepreneurs whereupon it quickly became the 'poor man's power source', driving motor cycles, motor boats, pumps and becoming a cheap, reliable, driver of small workshops before the days of mainstream electricity.
The internal-combustion engine was tried out as a motive force for primitive automobiles in France in the 1870s, but it never was produced in quantity. It was Gottlieb Daimler of Germany who really exploited the breakthrough of using petroleum instead of coal gas as a fuel, for the automobile a few years later. Then it was Henry Ford of the United States who, still later, made the internal combustion engine a mass market phenomenon with a tremendous effect on society. The two stroke petrol engine was initially invented by the British engineer Joseph Day of Bath, who later licensed it to American entrepreneurs whereupon it quickly became the 'poor man's power source', driving motor cycles, motor boats, pumps and becoming a cheap, reliable, driver of small workshops before the days of mainstream electricity.
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What we call progress is the exchange of one nuisance for another nuisance. |
Industrial Workers
This period, akin to the First Industrial Revolution was marked by a significant number of transient urban workers engaged in industrial labor (or the pursuit thereof ), relatively common unemployment and low wages. This period is also notable for an expanding number of white collar workers and increasing enrollment in trade unions.
Rise of Germany
The German Empire came to replace Great Britain as Europe's primary industrial nation during this period. This occurred as a result of three factors:
* Germany made use of the latest technological concepts, the British continued to use expensive and outdated technology and therefore were unable (or unwilling) to afford the fruits of their own scientific progress.
* In the development of science and pure research, the Germans invested more heavily than the British.
* The German cartel system (known as Torre Moore), being significantly concentrated, was able to make more efficient use of fluid capital.
* Germany made use of the latest technological concepts, the British continued to use expensive and outdated technology and therefore were unable (or unwilling) to afford the fruits of their own scientific progress.
* In the development of science and pure research, the Germans invested more heavily than the British.
* The German cartel system (known as Torre Moore), being significantly concentrated, was able to make more efficient use of fluid capital.
Other Developed Countries
After the humiliation Japan suffered by the hand of the US Navy, illustrated by the terms of the Convention of Kanagawa, Japanese leadership decided to move forward its feudal status in order to being able of preserving its independence. The government strongly promoted technological and industrial development wich eventually brought Japan to became a modern wealth power.
In a similar way, after the stranger's invasion Russia suffered during its civil war, Soviet Union's centrally controlled economy decided to invest a big part of its resources to enhance its industrial production and infrastructures in order to assure its own survival, thus becoming a world superpower.
The other European communist countries followed all the same developing scheme, albeit with a less emphasis on heavy industry.
Southern Europe countries saw a moderate industrialization period during from fifties to the seventies, reached through a healthy integration of the European economy, though their level of development, as well as those of eastern countries, don't match the western standards.
In a similar way, after the stranger's invasion Russia suffered during its civil war, Soviet Union's centrally controlled economy decided to invest a big part of its resources to enhance its industrial production and infrastructures in order to assure its own survival, thus becoming a world superpower.
The other European communist countries followed all the same developing scheme, albeit with a less emphasis on heavy industry.
Southern Europe countries saw a moderate industrialization period during from fifties to the seventies, reached through a healthy integration of the European economy, though their level of development, as well as those of eastern countries, don't match the western standards.
The Third World
A similar state-led developing program was pursued in virtually all the third world countries during the Cold War, including socialist ones, but specially in Sub-Saharan Africa after the decolonization period. The primary scope of those projects was to achieve self-sufficiency through the local production of previously imported goods, the mechanization of agriculture and the spread of education and health care. However, all those experiences failed bitterly due to lack of realism: most countries didn't have a pre-industrial bourgeoisie able to carry on a capitalistic development or even a stable and peaceful state. Those aborted experiences left huge debts toward western countries and fueled public corruption.
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India's civilization was based on village residence. They would live very peacefully in the villages. In the evening there would be bhagavata-katha. They will hear. That was Indian culture. They had no artificial way of living, drinking tea, and meat-eating and wine and illicit sex. No. Everyone was religious and satisfied by hearing -- what we are just introducing -- Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, Puranas, and live simple life, keeping cows, village life as it is exhibited by Krsna, Vrndavana |
Petrol Producing Countries
Oil-rich countries saw similar failures in their economic choices. The oil being both important and expensive, regions with big reserves have huge liquidity income. However this was rarely followed by economic development. Experience shows that local elites are unable to reinvest the petrodollars obtained through oil export, and currency is wasted in luxury goods. This is particularly evident in the Persian Gulf states, where the per capita income is comparable to those of western nations, but where no industrialization has started. Apart from two little countries (Bahrain and United Arab Emirates), Arab states didn't diversify their economies, and no replacement for the upcoming end of oil reserves is envisaged.
Asia
A totally different pattern was followed in East Asia, which is experiencing accelerated industrialization. In the sixties a network of small private-owned factories spread across four small countries known as the Asian tigers, focusing their activities on the export to rich countries of low value added goods. This specialization, allowed by the existence of stable governments and well structured societies, was favoured by a low workforce cost, a favorable exchange rate, and low custom duties. Because the success of those initial policies, in recent years the Asian tigers are trying to stepping forward this stage and diversifying theirs economies.
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“There is a spiritual hunger in the world today - and it cannot be satisfied by better cars on longer credit terms” |
This starting model was afterwards successfully copied in all eastern and southern Asian countries, included communist ones. The dimensions of this phenomenon leads to a huge wave of offshoring, that is, western factories or tertiary corporations choice to move their activities to poor countries where the workforce is less expensive and less collectively organized.
China and India, while roughly following this development pattern, were forced to adopt specific policies. China's government is actively investing in expanding its own infrastructures and securing its energy and raw materials supplying channels, is supporting its exports by financing the United States balance payment deficit through the purchase of US treasure bonds, and is strengthening its military in order to endorse a major geopolitical role. India's government is investing in specific vanguard economic sectors such as bioengineering, nuclear technology, pharmaceuticals, informatics or technologically-oriented higher education, openly overpassing its needs, with the goal of creating several specialization poles able to conquer foreign markets. China and India have also started to make huge investments in third countries, making them active actors of today's world economy.
China and India, while roughly following this development pattern, were forced to adopt specific policies. China's government is actively investing in expanding its own infrastructures and securing its energy and raw materials supplying channels, is supporting its exports by financing the United States balance payment deficit through the purchase of US treasure bonds, and is strengthening its military in order to endorse a major geopolitical role. India's government is investing in specific vanguard economic sectors such as bioengineering, nuclear technology, pharmaceuticals, informatics or technologically-oriented higher education, openly overpassing its needs, with the goal of creating several specialization poles able to conquer foreign markets. China and India have also started to make huge investments in third countries, making them active actors of today's world economy.
Other Countries
In recent years, other countries like Mexico, Brazil or Turkey have experienced a moderate industrial growth, fueled by exports to bigger economies like United States, China or the European Union respectively. They are sometimes called newly-industrialized countries. Also most African and Latin American nations seem to follow a similar scheme. Despite this trend being artificially influenced by the oil price increases, the phenomenon is not entirely new nor totally speculative. Most analyst conclude in the next decades the whole world will experience industrialization at an increasing pace.
At the start of the 21st century the term "second industrial revolution" has also been used to describe the anticipated effects of hypothetical molecular nanotechnology systems upon society.
At the start of the 21st century the term "second industrial revolution" has also been used to describe the anticipated effects of hypothetical molecular nanotechnology systems upon society.
Current situation
In 2005, the USA was the largest producer of industrial output followed by Japan and China, according to International Monetary Fund.
Currently the "international development community" (World Bank, OECD, many United Nations departments and some other organisations) endorses development policies based on merely poverty reduction, and giving access to poor populations to basic services like drinkable water or primary education. It does not recognize traditional industrialisation policies as being adequate or beneficial in the longer term, with the perception that it could only create inefficient local industries unable to compete in a free-trade dominated world.
Currently the "international development community" (World Bank, OECD, many United Nations departments and some other organisations) endorses development policies based on merely poverty reduction, and giving access to poor populations to basic services like drinkable water or primary education. It does not recognize traditional industrialisation policies as being adequate or beneficial in the longer term, with the perception that it could only create inefficient local industries unable to compete in a free-trade dominated world.
Various Revolutions Of The Last Two Centuries
* Industrial Agricultural Revolution/Neolithic Revolution
* Scientific Revolution
*Sexual revolution
* Digital Revolution
* Chemical Revolution
* Green Revolution
* Bio/Nano Revolution
*Atomic Age Revolution
*Space Age Revolution
*Information Technological Revolution
* Scientific Revolution
*Sexual revolution
* Digital Revolution
* Chemical Revolution
* Green Revolution
* Bio/Nano Revolution
*Atomic Age Revolution
*Space Age Revolution
*Information Technological Revolution
