With reference to the picture of a factory given below answer the questions that follow:

(a) Name the revolution that brought about the existence of this. Where did it begin? Why is it an important event in history?

(b) Explain the two factors responsible for its beginning in that particular country.

(c) Explain how did it lead to the growth of an economic system quite different from the domestic system of production.

(a) The given picture shows a factory scene which came into existence due to the Industrial Revolution. It began in England around mid-eighteenth century by mass production of goods.

It is an important event in history because it brought a transition from production by hand to production by machine, from small-scale production to large-scale production, from handmade goods to machine-made goods. Thus, within a hundred years, it brought in revolutionary changes in the political, social and economic life of the people.

(b) Two important factors responsible for its origin in England were:

1. Colonial Empire: England had a large colonial empire. From her colonies she could get raw material at cheaper rates for her factories. These colonies also served as markets for the British manufactured goods.

2. Increase in the Demand for Goods: The incentive to produce more and more goods was provided by two factors. First, the huge profits of expanding trade provided an impetus to discover new ways of increasing her production. Second, the Napoleonic wars made the English industries quite active. The Napoleonic wars damaged trade and industry of the continental countries. Since these wars were never fought in Britain, the long period of peace in Britain proved conducive to industrial production.

(c) Mass production destroyed the domestic system of production. In domestic system, production was carried out manually by craftsmen in small spaces with simple tools, and the scale of production was small. However, during Industrial revolution, the growth of industries and the use of huge machines gave rise to factories. The people of villages shifted to towns for employment in the factories. The factory system increased efficiency and output, and led to the growth of economy based on mass production and profit.