The Age Of Industrialisation Class 10 History Notes

Key Points: Must Remember

• Proto-Industrialisation (17th-18th Century): A period of large-scale industrial production for an international market, not based on factories, but household-based, decentralised production.
• Coming of the Factories (late 18th Century): The earliest factories appeared in England in the 1730s, with cotton becoming the leading sector. Richard Arkwright established the first cotton mill.
• Pace of Industrial Change: Industrialisation was not a sudden revolution but a gradual process. Traditional industries did not disappear; steam power was slow to adopt, and workers were often seasonal.
• Hand Labour vs. Steam Power: Abundance of labour in many countries meant industrialists preferred manual labour for specific, intricate tasks and to save capital costs.
• Industrialisation in Colonies (India): Indian textiles dominated world trade before machine goods. The British East India Company appointed Gomasthas to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and ensure quality.
• Manchester Goods in India: By the 19th century, British factory goods flooded Indian markets, leading to the decline of local weaving industries and unemployment.
• Early Indian Entrepreneurs: Key figures like Dwarkanath Tagore, Seth Hukumchand, Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata, and G.D. Birla established industries in India.
• Workers' Lives: The abundance of labour often led to difficult working conditions, low wages, and precarious employment, especially for migrant workers. The fear of unemployment spurred movements like Luddism.
• Market for Goods: Industrialists used advertisements, calendars, and labels to promote their products and create a 'new consumer' culture, often associating products with national pride or deities.

Important Terms & Definitions

Proto-Industrialisation

A phase of industrial development in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, preceding the factory system, where production for an international market was carried out in rural households.

Stapler

A person who 'staples' or sorts wool according to its fibre.

Fuller

A person who 'fulls' cloth by gathering, pleating, or pressing it, often by trampling, to clean and thicken it.

Spinning Jenny

A machine invented by James Hargreaves in 1764, which accelerated the spinning process by allowing a single worker to operate multiple spindles simultaneously.

Gomastha

An Indian agent or supervisor appointed by the British East India Company to oversee weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth.

Luddism

A movement of workers in Britain (1811-1817) who protested against industrialisation and new machinery, viewing them as a threat to their livelihoods and smashing machines in factories.

Fly Shuttle

A mechanical device invented by John Kay in 1733 for weaving, which sped up the weaving process and required less labour, leading to an increased demand for yarn.

Proto-Industrialisation: The Era Before Factories

Before the rise of factories, a significant amount of industrial production took place, which historians often refer to as proto-industrialisation. This system was particularly prominent in 17th and 18th century Europe, setting the stage for the later factory system. In this model, merchants from towns would move to the countryside, supplying money to peasants and artisans, and persuading them to produce goods for an international market. The merchants would then collect the finished products – typically textiles like cloth – and transport them to the export market.

This system had several advantages for the merchants. They could bypass the powerful urban guilds of craftspeople, who controlled prices, production, and had monopolies on specific crafts. These guilds made it difficult for new merchants to set up business in towns. In the countryside, peasants welcomed the opportunity to supplement their meagre agricultural income. With the decline of open fields and the enclosure movement, many poor peasants and artisans had fewer options for survival, and the advances offered by merchants provided a crucial alternative source of livelihood. Cottage industries flourished, with spinning, weaving, fulling, and dyeing all carried out within family units. The entire family, including women and children, was involved in different stages of production. This decentralized system, where production was located in different parts of the countryside, allowed for flexible production schedules, enabling peasants to combine agricultural work with industrial labour. It demonstrated a significant level of commercialisation of production, long before the iconic factory chimneys began to dot the landscape.

Impact of Manchester Goods on Indian Textiles

Exam Tip: Mastering 'The Age of Industrialisation'

When answering questions from this chapter, focus on cause-and-effect relationships. For instance, what were the causes for the decline of Indian weavers, and what were the effects? Be prepared to differentiate between proto-industrialisation and the factory system. Pay attention to the role of key individuals (inventors, entrepreneurs) and institutions (East India Company, guilds, trade unions). Always include specific examples like the Spinning Jenny or the Fly Shuttle to support your points. Questions often involve analysing primary sources or comparing conditions in Britain and India, so practice interpreting information and structuring your answers logically. Emphasise the social impact of industrialisation, particularly on the lives of workers, women, and children.

Quick Revision Checks

• Q: What was the primary characteristic of proto-industrialisation? A: Production for an international market, carried out by rural households, not in factories, often organized by merchants.
• Q: Name two major problems faced by Indian weavers as Manchester goods flooded the Indian market. A: Decline in export market for Indian textiles and local market being swamped by cheap machine-made goods, leading to unemployment and poverty.
• Q: Who were Gomasthas and what was their role? A: Gomasthas were paid servants appointed by the British East India Company to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth, ensuring weavers supplied only to the Company.
• Q: Why did many industrialists in 19th-century Britain prefer hand labour over new machines? A: They preferred hand labour due to the abundance of cheap labour, the need for human skill for intricate tasks, and the high cost and maintenance of new machinery.

Frequently Asked Questions