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World History Class 02

Decoding the syllabus (08:10 AM)

  • 1)Important Revolution
  • 1.1)Industrial Revolution
  • 1.2)American Revolution
  • 1.3)Frenc Revolution
  • 1.4)Bolshevik revolution.
  • 2)Important Wars
  • 2.1)American Civil War
  • 2.2)First World War
  • 2.3)Russian Civil War
  • 2.4)Second world war
  • 2.5)Cold war
  • 3)Important ideologies and events
  • 3.1)Capitalism
  • 3.2)Early Socialism
  • 3.3)Socialism
  • 3.4)Communism
  • 3.5)Colonialism
  • 3.6)Imperialism
  • 3.7)Neo colonisation and Imperialism
  • 3.8)Colonisation of Africa.
  • 3.9)Decolonisation of Asia and Africa.
  • 3.4)Nationalism (Unification of Italy and Germany)
  • 3.5) Fascism and Nazism.
  • 4)Miscellaneous topics
  • 4.1)Articles of Confederation and the American Constitution.
  • 4.2)Great Depression and New Deal.
  • 4.3)New economic policy (Russia)
  • 4.4)Suez Canal crisis
  • 4.5)Cuban Missile Crisis
  • 4.6)Disintegration of USSR.
  • 4.7)International Institution -LON, NAM, UN

Industrial Revolution (08:37 AM)

  • Started in the 18th century and is something which never ends.
  • IR is considered the greatest achievement of mankind having direct and indirect impact across different areas of life.
  • IR started in the 18th century in Britain followed by the Rest of the world.
  • IR is marked by the replacement of muscle energy and handheld tools with machines and alternate sources of energy, especially coal.

Causes/Platform behind the Industrial Revolution (08:59 AM)

A)Political Revolution

  • 1)By the late 17th century as a result of the glorious revolution in Britain, a Constitutional monarchy was established. The new parliament accommodated the new aspirations of the people facilitating future IR.

B)Economic/Commercial Revolution

  • Britain started maritime commerce by the 16th century leading to the rise of mercantilism/merchant capitalism.
  • The new mercantilist economy generated huge profits. This accumulated bullion acted as capital for future IR.
  • Also through the root of commerce, Britain got access to the market of Europe.
  • It is important to note that in the pre-industrial days, Britain was the exporter of woollen Textiles.
  • With IR Britain started exporting cotton textiles and other finished goods.

C)Ideological and Technological Revolution (09:39 AM)

  • Prior to IR, the Age of Enlightenment created scientific temperament.
  • The practical bent of people led to small innovations in increasing the output and quality of produce.
  • It is important to note that IR in Britain started for the first time in the textile sector. Here inventions such as the flying shuttle, spinning jenny, water frame etc 

D)Agricultural Revolution (09:55 AM)

  • The second agricultural revolution facilitated IR in Britain.
  • The 2nd agricultural revolution was achieved by taking the following steps:
  • d.1)The size of agricultural land for growing food was increased, it was done so by bringing in community properties, grazing lands or pastoral lands.
  • d.2)New crops were introduced such as maize, potato etc that solved the problem of food shortage.
  • d.3)Multiple cropping patterns and new technologies harnessed the full potential of land.
  • More availability of food supported population growth. Also, new methods in agriculture freed labour from the clutches of land and acted as cheap labour in future industries.

E)Religious/Cultural

  • IR was also cultural in the context. The protestant society believed in constant endeavour and human labour, A pre-condition for IR.
  • As wealth was being generated because of cultural reasons they were further used as capital investment facilitating industrialisation.

The topic for the next class: Continuation of discussion on the Industrial Revolution