Lesson 13: The industrial revolution Summary sentence: The industrial revolution was symptomatic of economic prosperity, an increase in living and working conditions and an increase in wages. Question: Why was England the first country to industrialize? The Industrial Revolution brought great things to Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. England was the first to industrialize for three reasons; the availability of natural resources, population and war. Natural resources were very abundant in England, providing a great advantage. The growing population provided more potential buyers for the English economy. The Napoleonic Wars were over in England and there were rarely any more instances where the military had to get involved, making it the perfect time for a revolution. These combined qualities that England possessed created a solid foundation for an industrial revolution that would benefit England forever. The availability of natural resources was the primary reason why the English were able to industrialize first. England was the first to run the risk of depending on new technologies; this gave them an advantage in the coal and iron mining industries. This advantage in mining created a cycle, the iron mined by England could be used to make machines that made iron tools, which were powered by coal, which tools were mined. This cycle brought great benefits to England, especially due to England's vast shipping options which allowed them to increase their economic well-being as well. Natural resources contributed greatly to England's success in becoming the first European nation to industrialise.b. The increase in population in England also helped England become the central aspect of life in England during the 18th and 19th centuries. Geography A,1. Stores and goods began in southern England but began to spread northwards during the 19th century.2. Transportation in England during the late 18th and 19th centuries began to grow more and more as the cotton textile industry grew.B,1. The Austrian and Ottoman empires appear poor on the map due to a lack of adequate transportation. The countries that appear rich are Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland.2. There is a difference between the north and the south of Europe, southern Europe appears much poorer than the north due to the distance from central Europe, the center of industrialisation. 3. Where there are coal deposits are the same places where there are emerging industrial areas.